What does stony mean?
Stony means full of stones, rocky, or like stone in appearance. It can describe physical landscapes, such as a stony path, hillside, or stretch of terrain, and it may also suggest barrenness or difficulty because few plants can grow there. Figuratively, a stony face, expression, or silence suggests severity, hostility, or a lack of emotional warmth. The word is especially useful when describing a person's reaction that feels unyielding or deliberately unresponsive: a stony silence can be more forceful than an openly angry response. In British and American English, stony is widely understood, but its figurative senses are usually more noticeable than its literal use in informal everyday speech. Its strength lies in conveying both the hard physical quality of stone and the social impression of emotional rigidity that stone can symbolize.
adjectiveFull of, covered with, or resembling stones. In figurative use, stony describes a face, expression, silence, or manner that appears severe, unfriendly, or emotionally unmoved.
- Covered with, full of, or composed of stones.
- Hard, bare, and difficult to cultivate or support.
- Unyielding, severe, or emotionally unmoved in a person's manner or expression.
"The path became stony and difficult to follow after the rain."
"They climbed across the stony ground, following the ridge line."
"She met the criticism with a stony silence."
A stony silence can say more than an argument: it leaves no room for a reply.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stony come from?
Stony derives from the Old English word stān, meaning 'stone,' with the adjective-forming suffix -y. The development reflects the same Germanic root found in words such as stone and stonemason. In modern English, the literal sense and figurative sense concerning emotional hardness have both remained central.
Related word forms
How stony is actually used
The adjective is common in both British and American English. Its figurative use, especially in phrases such as 'a stony silence' or 'a stony face,' conveys emotional coldness or deliberate refusal to respond warmly.