What does impassionate mean?
Impassionate is an adjective that describes someone or something that lacks emotion or shows no emotional response. It can be used to describe a person's demeanor, such as a judge who remains unemotional during a trial, or a tone of voice, such as a speech that is delivered in a calm and detached manner. Impassionate can also be used to describe a situation or event that is devoid of emotional intensity. The word is often contrasted with its antonym, passionate, which describes someone or something that is filled with strong emotions. Impassionate is a useful word for describing situations where emotional restraint is necessary or desirable.
adjectiveLacking or showing no emotion; unemotional.
- Lacking or showing no emotion; unemotional.
"The impassionate judge listened to the arguments without showing any sign of emotion."
"The impassionate judge listened to the arguments without showing any sign of emotion."
"The impassionate tone of the speech was criticized by the audience."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of impassionate
The word impassionate comes from the prefix 'im-' meaning 'not' and the word 'passion' meaning 'strong emotion'. This etymology suggests that impassionate describes a state of being that is the opposite of passionate.
How impassionate is actually used
Impassionate is often used to describe someone who remains calm and unemotional in a situation where others might be expected to show strong emotions.