What does stoically mean?
Stoically means acting with patient endurance and without complaint in the face of pain, difficulty, or misfortune. It is commonly used to describe someone who continues calmly under difficult circumstances, as in “she stoically completed the race despite an injured ankle.” The word often suggests self-control and emotional restraint, although its implication can vary: it may praise resilience or endurance, while in less sympathetic contexts it can suggest excessive composure or a reluctance to express distress. Its strongest associations come from Stoicism, the ancient Greek and Roman philosophical tradition emphasizing virtue, acceptance, and freedom from destructive emotions. In modern English, stoically is chiefly formal and is often used in accounts of hardship, discipline, endurance, and adversity.
adverbIn a stoical manner, without complaint or emotional reaction to pain, difficulty, or misfortune.
- Without complaint, emotional display, or loss of self-control in the face of pain, difficulty, or misfortune.
"She stoically continued working despite the persistent pain in her back."
"He stoically endured several months of treatment before telling anyone how much it affected him."
"Rather than argue, the diplomat's adviser remained stoically silent during the tense meeting."
Stoicism takes its name from the Stoa Poikile, the painted porch in Athens where Zeno taught.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of stoically
Stoically derives from Stoic, which comes through Latin from Greek Stoikos, meaning “of the Stoics.” The Stoics were so named because their founder, Zeno of Citium, taught in the stoa, or covered walkway, known as the Stoa Poikile in Athens. English adopted the philosophical term in the late Middle English period, initially in reference to ancient Stoic doctrine.
Related word forms
How stoically is actually used
Stoically is formal in tone and usually describes patient, controlled acceptance of hardship. It can imply admirable endurance, but may also suggest emotional detachment or an unwillingness to complain.
Easily confused with stoically
Stoic is an adjective meaning characteristic of Stoic philosophy or marked by endurance, while stoically is the adverb describing how such endurance is expressed.