as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsmiling
To emphasize Hezbollah’s resolve, hundreds of soldiers marched in precise formation, unsmiling and staring straight ahead, with their rifles across their chests, their fatigues pressed, and their boots gleaming.
—
Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
But courage has many faces, and a revolution takes all sorts — and one made up only of unsmiling soldiers is likely to lead only to war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024
She’s clipped, judgmental and unsmiling—there hasn’t been a figure of such puritanical disapproval since Amy Adams in The Master.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Belichick, known for his rumpled appearance, unsmiling countenance and monotone voice, was celebrated as savant, savior and sage.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling 
Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
But courage has many faces, and a revolution takes all sorts — and one made up only of unsmiling soldiers is likely to lead only to war.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024
She’s clipped, judgmental and unsmiling—there hasn’t been a figure of such puritanical disapproval since Amy Adams in The Master.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Belichick, known for his rumpled appearance, unsmiling countenance and monotone voice, was celebrated as savant, savior and sage.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
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And their CEOs announced these promises with solemn rhetoric about their companies' roles in fixing societal problems.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
3 Feb. 2025
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The Oscars were not scheduled until the following March, but the ceremony still took on a solemn tone.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As Kirsten Cohen’s stern taskmaster of a father, Alan Dale was only supposed to have a brief appearance on The O.C.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
EW.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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Sterling was all smiles for the photo, but the same couldn’t be said for Bronze, who gave the camera a stern look.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Unless governments take on the financial burden of serious mitigation efforts, the price of California's fire risk will remain unequal and left to the homeowners, Collier of UC Berkeley said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2025
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Only one that should not be obvious unless Forest suffer some serious injury misfortune.—
Paul Taylor,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unsmiling
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
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