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.
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 After two years of being locked up and systematically abused by Arkham’s squad of guards led by Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson), Arthur has become an unsmiling, even more gaunt shell of his former self. Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Oct. 2024 Earlier, an unsmiling Timberlake arrived at the courthouse on the Eastern end of Long Island near The Hamptons this morning to a crowd of reporters, fans and reportedly at least one protester holding a large photograph of a boy who apparently had been killed by a drunk driver. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024 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 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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