as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face
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Recent Examples of unsmiling
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.
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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
Other people worry that political tensions and anxiety over such things as the death of democracy and the climate crisis have left us collectively unsmiling—that now the only thing people are likely to talk about at a water cooler is cooler water.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling 
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
Other people worry that political tensions and anxiety over such things as the death of democracy and the climate crisis have left us collectively unsmiling—that now the only thing people are likely to talk about at a water cooler is cooler water.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
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In the room: The feeling was solemn and surreal, with many attendees talking about events earlier in the day for Twelfth Night to kick off the Mardi Gras season.Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
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The serious can exist alongside the inane, and the two enhance each other; in this universe, everyone deserves the right to a good bit of fun, and mass entertainment must serve the solemn duty of providing it.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming border czar Tom Homan has issued a stern warning to migrants illegally entering the U.S. in the final days of the Biden administration.Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2025
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That’s the pinnacle stewardship stern directors, CFOs and CTOs embrace.Noah Barsky, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And with a game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, that streak has a serious chance to continue.Max Bultman, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unsmiling
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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