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Angst is a strong feeling of anxiety, worry, and unhappiness, especially about a current or future situation.
Apathy is a lack of interest or unenthusiastic involvement in an activity; there is no effort to change or improve it at all.
Something austere is simple and plain in its style; an austere person is strict and severe with themselves.
When something bedevils you, it causes you a lot of problems and difficulties over a period of time.
Bedlam is a situation with a great deal of noise and confusion.
If you are beset by something, you are experiencing serious problems or dangers because of it.
When a person is speaking or writing in a bombastic fashion, they are very self-centered, extremely showy, and excessively proud.
Complacent persons are too confident and relaxed because they think that they can deal with a situation easily; however, in many circumstances, this is not the case.
Consternation is the feeling of anxiety or fear, sometimes paralyzing in its effect, and often caused by something unexpected that has happened.
If something discomfits you, it makes you feel embarrassed, confused, uncomfortable, or frustrated.
If something disconcerts you, it makes you feel anxious, worried, or confused.
Someone does something in a disinterested way when they have no personal involvement or attachment to the action.
When someone feels disquiet about a situation, they feel very worried or nervous.
Someone who is dour is serious, stubborn, and unfriendly.
Someone who is ebullient is filled with enthusiasm, very happy, and extremely excited about something.
An effervescent individual is lively, very happy, and enthusiastic.
Someone who is epicurean derives great pleasure in material and sensual things, especially good food and drink.
If you exhibit equanimity, you demonstrate a calm mental state—without showing upset or annoyance—when you deal with a difficult situation.
Hedonism is the belief that pleasure is important, so much so that life should be spent doing only things that one enjoys.
If someone is impassive, they are not showing any emotion.
If someone is imperturbable, they are always calm and not easily upset or disturbed by any situation, even dangerous ones.
Insouciance is a lack of concern or worry for something that should be shown more careful attention or consideration.
If you are inured to something unpleasant you have become so used to it that it no longer affects you.
An irascible person becomes angry very easily.
A person who is being laconic uses very few words to say something.
When you are acting in a melodramatic way, you are overreacting to something in an overly dramatic and exaggerated way.
If you nettle someone, you irritate or annoy them.
Someone who is nonchalant is very relaxed and appears not to be worried about anything.
Pandemonium is a very noisy and uncontrolled situation, especially one that is caused by a lot of angry or excited people.
Someone who is phlegmatic stays calm and unemotional even in dangerous or exciting situations.
To quaver is to shake or tremble, especially when speaking.
To quell something is to stamp out, quiet, or overcome it.
Someone who is querulous often complains about things in an annoying way.
A state of quiescence is one of quiet and restful inaction.
People who are reticent are unwilling to share information, especially about themselves, their thoughts, or their feelings.
If you are acting in a saccharine fashion, you are being way too sugary sweet or are being extremely sentimental, both of which can be irritating to others.
Skittish persons or animals are made easily nervous or alarmed; they are likely to change behavior quickly and unpredictably.
A spartan lifestyle is very simple and severe; it has no luxuries or comforts.
If someone is squeamish, they are easily nauseated or shocked by things that are tolerated by most people; they can also be oversensitive.
If you are steadfast, you have a firm belief in your actions or opinions and refuse to give up or change them because you are certain that you are doing the right thing.
If you are stolid, you have or show little emotion about anything at all.
When you subdue something, like an enemy force or emotions, you defeat or bring them under control.
If you are susceptible to something, such as a disease or emotion, you are likely or inclined to be affected by it.
Someone is tremulous when they are shaking slightly from nervousness or fear; they may also simply be afraid of something.
Trepidation is fear or uneasiness about something that is going to happen.
If a problem or situation is vexing, it means that it puzzles, worries, or annoys you.
If someone is described as vivacious, they are lively and have a happy, lighthearted manner.
Adj.
stoic
STOH-ik
Context
When her leg was fractured during the multiple car accident, Elizabeth remained stoic or calm, insisting that others’ injuries be treated first. Her injury resulted in months of physical therapy, throughout which the enduring, quiet Elizabeth was stoic or uncomplaining. I asked how she could remain so stoic or patient while suffering such intense pain. She replied that there was nothing she could do about it, and that staying unemotional or stoic seemed best for all concerned.
Quiz:Try again!
When is someone stoic?
When that person puts everyone else before his or her needs.
When that person experiences a huge trauma and goes into shock.
When that person conceals emotions or pain and does not talk about them.
Scar Tissue When I asked about the scar tissue that I discovered on Tolbert's back, he stoically replied that it was nothing and to forget about it.
Examples
The coach has the unique ability to remain compassionate, almost fatherly, and yet at the same time put on the stoic front, reminding everyone of what lies ahead.
—
The Washington Post
Nobody is more beloved than Zimmer, who is a universal grandfather figure — a symbol of bemused, stoic sanity — in a game that eventually seems to drive everybody else nuts.
—
The Washington Post
Coach K is widely perceived as a stoic figure, so it was particularly moving to see his lip and chin quivering madly as former Big East commissioner Dave Gavitt presented him with his Hall of Fame ring.
—
Sports Illustrated
This would have been another fine winter to wallow in the stoic gloom that is second nature to Seattle, the most northerly and, in winter, darkest, big city in the Lower 48.
—
The Washington Post
The word stoic comes from a root word meaning “Painted Porch.” Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, who taught his followers to equally endure and be silent about both pain and pleasure, frequented and taught in the “Painted Porch;” hence, someone stoic is “like” someone of the “Painted Porch.”
Word Theater
Documentary What it means to be stoic.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
Click for an interactive map of this word
Related Words
apathy ·
austere ·
complacent ·
disinterested ·
dour ·
equanimity ·
impassive ·
imperturbable ·
insouciance ·
inured ·
laconic ·
nonchalant ·
phlegmatic ·
quell ·
quiescence ·
reticent ·
spartan ·
steadfast ·
stolid+ ·
subdue+ ·
angst ·
bedevil ·
bedlam ·
beset ·
bombastic ·
consternation ·
discomfit ·
disconcert ·
disquiet ·
ebullient ·
effervescent ·
epicurean ·
hedonism ·
irascible ·
melodramatic+ ·
nettle ·
pandemonium ·
quaver ·
querulous ·
saccharine+ ·
skittish ·
squeamish+ ·
susceptible+ ·
tremulous ·
trepidation ·
vexing ·
vivacious ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
stoicism
n
→
a state of showing no reaction to pleasure or pain
stoic
n
→
one who is seemingly unaffected by emotions
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
