adjective

stoic

/ˈstoʊɪk/ · say it: STOH·ik

enduring hardship without complaint

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) showing little or no emotion, especially in response to pain or suffering

2. (adjective) remaining calm and accepting of difficult situations without complaining

3. (noun) a person who behaves in a stoic way

Examples

1. He remained stoic throughout the painful medical procedure. 2. She took the bad news with stoic acceptance. 3. He is a stoic who rarely shows his feelings.

How to use stoic

Stoic describes someone who bears hardship, pain, or disappointment with calm acceptance and minimal emotional display. It can be admiring (suggesting admirable restraint and strength) or slightly neutral when describing mere lack of emotion. The term carries a sense of controlled dignity rather than mere indifference.

Common phrases

stoic acceptance
stoic silence
stoic resignation
remain stoic
stoic expression
stoic endurance

Synonyms

impassive · unemotional · unflappable · composed · resigned

Opposites

emotional · excitable · complaining

Word family

stoically (adverb) · stoicism (noun) · Stoic (noun/adjective - philosophical school)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse stoic with apathetic or suggest that stoicism means not feeling anything; in fact, stoicism implies feeling pain or difficulty but choosing not to show it or complain about it.

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