unsmiling

adjective

un·​smil·​ing ˌən-ˈsmī-liŋ How to pronounce unsmiling (audio)
: not smiling or tending to smile : marked by a somber or serious expression or attitude
a stern, unsmiling teacher
unsmilingly adverb
His views were unsmilingly stated, implacably held, and amenable to no reasonable argument. Simon Winchester

Examples of unsmiling in a Sentence

delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On his first trip to the Holy See, Francis’ unsmiling welcome was seen as frigid and unfriendly; both encounters were markedly brief. Federico Perelmuter, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025 But at that moment, looking up from the examination table at Tina, her dark hair framing her unsmiling face, Lilian neither hesitated nor flinched. Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025 Michaels is an oxymoron: a comedy legend known by the public for his unsmiling face. Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025 The men, terse, unsmiling, and unfailingly polite, keep them under siege for days. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsmiling

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsmiling was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsmiling. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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