deadpan

adjective

ˈded-ˌpan How to pronounce deadpan (audio)
Definition of deadpannext
as in blank
not expressing any emotion he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deadpan Plaza talked to The New Yorker about how fans sometimes try to emulate her deadpan persona. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Flitting between deadpan sorrow and impassioned romance, Bridgers’ album is alternately spooky, hilarious, mysterious and sneakily moving. — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 Socially awkward characters offer an opportunity for dry humor and deadpan prose. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Manco isn’t necessarily the most dynamic protagonist in the world, but he’s centered and relatable in his anxiety over aging and his genuine love for Sammy, and an amusing deadpan presence with an accent the actor commits too. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
  1. blank
  2. expressionless
  3. enigmatic
  4. impassive
  5. stolid
Adjective
  • No sitting down eagerly and staring at a blank document, hoping to craft the next great American novel.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The blank instrument cluster can occur randomly at startup, the company said.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of blank
Adjective
  • The 47-year-old, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, was expressionless as the charges against him were described.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2026
  • The routine calls for this chic, almost expressionless vibe — very different from a typical K-pop performance.
    — Billboard Korea, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Definition of expressionless
Adjective
  • Joe is mostly effective as an enigmatic protagonist bordering on an unreliable narrator.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Her conversation consisted primarily of declarations, some more enigmatic than others.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of enigmatic
Adjective
  • Lancelot, noticeably weary, impassive, and preoccupied atop an equally weary black horse, follows the sorcerer, while Merlin leads him up the path into the realm of shadows, out of the frame to the left.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
  • Riles’s face is impassive, focused, as the announcer reads out the winner.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of impassive
Adjective
  • Many Labour members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • Many Labor members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of stolid

Browse Nearby Words

dead-on
deadpan
dead presidents
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Cite this Entry

“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deadpan

Nglish: Translation of deadpan for Spanish Speakers

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