stonily

stonily — adverb

1. like someone made of stone — in a hard, emotionless manner, giving no sign of ca

1.adverb
Definition

like someone made of stone — in a hard, emotionless manner, giving no sign of care, kindness, or any feeling at all

Example

Lakshmi stared stonily at the lawyer, refusing to say a single word.

stared stonily at [sb] — adverb + verb of looking

When police asked about the crash, the driver remained stonily silent.

remained stonily silent — fixed expression

Common collocations
  • stare stonily
  • look stonily
  • remain stonily silent
  • listen stonily
  • gaze stonily
Synonyms
  • coldly

    more general; can describe both emotional coldness and physical temperature

  • emotionlessly

    focuses purely on absence of feeling, without the 'hard' or 'harsh' connotation of stonily

  • impassively

    suggests deliberate, controlled lack of expression rather than inherent coldness

  • blankly

    emphasises an empty, uncomprehending stare rather than a cold, rejecting one

Antonyms
  • warmly

    showing kindness and friendliness instead of cold detachment

  • sympathetically

    showing understanding and concern rather than indifference

Grammar Patterns

stare / look / listen / remain + stonily

Usage Note

Typically used with verbs of looking, listening, speaking, or remaining silent. Common in literary or formal writing rather than everyday conversation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe actions done without visible feeling, but they differ in tone and scope. Coldly is the broadest — it can refer to deliberate cruelty, simple lack of warmth, or even physical temperature. Emotionlessly is more neutral and clinical, describing an absence of feeling without implying harshness. Impassively (from Latin 'impassibilis') emphasises a controlled, unreadable expression, often in high-pressure situations such as courtrooms or negotiations. Blankly suggests an empty, unfocused gaze that may come from confusion or shock rather than hardness. For example, a defendant may listen impassively to a verdict, but a parent looks blankly at a mess they do not understand — only stonily captures the deliberate, unyielding coldness of someone who simply will not respond.

coldly ↗emotionlesslyimpassivelyblankly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • remain stonily silent
  • stare stonily at

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in late Middle English from 'stony' (adjective, meaning 'made of or resembling stone') plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Stony' itself comes from Old English 'stānig', derived from 'stān' ('stone'), tracing back through Proto-Germanic '*stainaz' to a prehistoric Indo-European root meaning 'to harden'.