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
During the interview, an unsmiling, downcast Affleck gave rambling answers and repeatedly looked off camera, as a clip of the interview shows.
—
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
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Pope Misses Start of Lent The Catholic Church began the solemn Lenten season on Wednesday without Pope Francis because of his ongoing hospitalization.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
-
The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season without the pope's participation.—
Bradford Betz,
Fox News,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Lilian laughed, but Dr. Fenton remained stern, only nodding at Lilian’s understanding.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
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Waves of anti-Tesla and Elon Musk protests ripple throughout Bay Area Related Articles With few options, Bay Area Democrats in Congress oppose Trump with stern letters, town halls and protest California’s first zero-emission car mandates are coming.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
The Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Aggies are in a serious rough patch, however, having lost their last three games in a row.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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In San Diego, many serious rosarians fertilize with a plethora of fertilizers every two weeks commencing in mid-February through to mid-October.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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