stonefaced

Stonefaced is an adjective used to describe a person whose facial expression is rigid, unreadable, or emotionally restrained. A stonefaced individual often appears calm, unsmiling, and impassive, giving little clue to inner thoughts or feelings. The term conveys a sense of emotional control or detachment and is commonly used in descriptive writing, journalism, and criticism.

Etymology and usage: The phrase derives from the comparison to stone, implying hardness and immobility of the face. It appears both as stone-faced (hyphenated) and as a closed form stonefaced in English, with the hyphenated variant being more common in contemporary writing. It functions as a descriptive label rather than a diagnosis, and its connotation can range from admiration for composure to critique of emotional reserve.

Contexts and examples: Stonefaced descriptors are frequently applied to judges, security personnel, or investigators who maintain a calm, inscrutable exterior. In fiction, stonefaced characters may be portrayed as stoic protagonists, calculating antagonists, or morally neutral figures whose true motives stay hidden. In journalism and reviews, a stonefaced response can indicate formal seriousness, professionalism, or controlled emotion in the face of provocation or crisis. The term is often paired with other descriptors such as stoic, inscrutable, or poker-faced to emphasize different facets of demeanor.

See also: poker face, stoicism, impassive, inscrutable, facial expression. Note that the term should be used with care when describing real individuals, as it implies interpretive judgments about someone’s emotional state bearing on their outward appearance.