unemotional
/'ʌni'mouʃənl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not showing or feeling strong emotions; calm and controlled in manner: Describes a person, behavior, or response that is characterized by a lack of overt emotional expression.
- Not easily affected by or susceptible to emotion: Describes a state of being or a quality that is not easily moved by emotional stimuli.
Usage
- Used to describe a person's character, demeanor, or typical behavior.
- Used to describe a specific reaction, response, or piece of communication (e.g., a statement, a report).
- Often carries a neutral or descriptive tone, but can imply a lack of warmth or empathy depending on context.
Examples
- Describing a person's demeanor:
- He remained unemotional throughout the crisis, giving clear and logical instructions.
- Her unemotional response to the sad news surprised everyone.
- Describing communication or style:
- The report was a dry, unemotional account of the facts.
- She delivered the verdict in a calm, unemotional voice.
Advanced Usage
- Clinical/Professional Context: Often used to describe a necessary detachment in professions like medicine, law, or science.
- The doctor's unemotional analysis was crucial for making the right diagnosis.
- Comparative Form: Can be used in comparisons.
- Of the two, she was the more unemotional, rarely revealing her feelings.
Variants and Related Words
- Unemotionally (adverb): In an unemotional manner.
- He spoke unemotionally about the incident.
- Unemotionality (noun): The state or quality of being unemotional. (Less common)
Synonyms
- Detached: Aloof and objective; not emotionally involved.
- Stoic: Enduring pain or hardship without showing feelings or complaining.
- Impassive: Not feeling or showing emotion.
- Dispassionate: Not influenced by strong emotion; impartial.
- Phlegmatic: Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
Antonyms
- Emotional: Readily showing or easily affected by emotion.
- Passionate: Showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief.
- Excitable: Responding too readily to something new or stimulating; easily excited.
- Demonstrative: Showing feelings openly, especially of affection.
Notes on Meaning
- Neutral vs. Negative Connotation: "Unemotional" is primarily descriptive. It can be positive when describing objectivity (e.g., a judge) but may be perceived negatively when describing a lack of empathy or warmth in personal relationships.
- Not Synonymous with "Unfeeling": While similar, "unfeeling" more strongly implies a callous lack of sympathy or compassion. "Unemotional" focuses on the external display, not necessarily the internal capacity for feeling.
Adjective
- cool and formal in manner
- unsusceptible to or destitute of or showing no emotion