stony
adjective
ˈstō-nē 
variants or less commonly stoney
stonier; stoniest
1
: abounding in or having the nature of stone : rocky
2
a
: insensitive to pity or human feeling : obdurate
b
: manifesting no movement or reaction : dumb, expressionless
c
: fearfully gripping : petrifying
3
archaic : consisting of or made of stones
4
British : stone broke
stonily
ˈstō-nə-lē
adverb stoniness
ˈstō-nē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- heartless
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- ironhearted
- merciless
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She gave him a stony stare. the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Such trees, gnarly and stout, can live for hundreds of years on the harsh, stony landscape of the higher elevations. 
Robert O'harrow Jr., Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Gagosian’s concerns were echoed by several curators known to write widely on Basquiat’s work, who have greeted the Orlando museum’s show with a stony public silence. New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 Martha returns to work just three weeks later with no explanation, just cool, stony defiance. Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2021 Additionally, Itokawa was a bright, stony object, with a very different history and scientific potential from dark, carbonaceous asteroids such as Bennu. Dante S. Lauretta, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2016 Located roughly 10 miles north of the town of Strawberry in Coconino National Forest, the stony peninsula juts out over the eastern edge of Fossil Springs Wilderness. Mare Czinar, azcentral, 29 May 2020 The senators watched, with stony faces, as Mr. Schiff spoke. Lindsay Wise, WSJ, 16 Jan. 2020 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. sun-sentinel.com, 11 Dec. 2019 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2019 See More
Robert O'harrow Jr., Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Gagosian’s concerns were echoed by several curators known to write widely on Basquiat’s work, who have greeted the Orlando museum’s show with a stony public silence. New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 Martha returns to work just three weeks later with no explanation, just cool, stony defiance. Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2021 Additionally, Itokawa was a bright, stony object, with a very different history and scientific potential from dark, carbonaceous asteroids such as Bennu. Dante S. Lauretta, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2016 Located roughly 10 miles north of the town of Strawberry in Coconino National Forest, the stony peninsula juts out over the eastern edge of Fossil Springs Wilderness. Mare Czinar, azcentral, 29 May 2020 The senators watched, with stony faces, as Mr. Schiff spoke. Lindsay Wise, WSJ, 16 Jan. 2020 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. sun-sentinel.com, 11 Dec. 2019 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing stony
Kids Definition
stony
adjective
ˈstō-nē
stonier; stoniest
1
: full of stones
stony soil
2
: hard as or like stone
stony meteorites
3
: insensitive sense 1, unfeeling
a stony stare
stony
adjective
variants also stoney
as in grim
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- grim
- stern
- obdurate
- harsh
- pitiless
- merciless
- indurate
- ruthless
- tough
- insensate
- unfeeling
- soulless
- callous
- unsympathetic
- remorseless
- rough
- inhuman
- affectless
- compassionless
- unmerciful
- heartless
- insensitive
- hard
- oppressive
- uncharitable
- unsparing
- inhumane
- pachydermatous
- malicious
- thick-skinned
- cold
- severe
- case-hardened
- hard-hearted
- ungentle
- abusive
- desensitized
- unfriendly
- ironhearted
- heedless
- stonyhearted
- brutal
- unthinking
- uncaring
- thoughtless
- savage
- take-no-prisoners
- cruel
- boorish
- hard-boiled
- disagreeable
- unloving
- spiteful
- austere
- inconsiderate
- surly
- barbarous
- cold-blooded
- slash-and-burn
- virulent
- hateful
- brutish
- frosty
- acrimonious
- malevolent
- vicious
- sledgehammer
- rancorous
- jackbooted
- bestial
- hard-bitten
- ironfisted
- rough-and-tumble
- ill-tempered
- ill-natured
- mean
- ironhanded
- heavy-handed
- knock-down, drag-out
- knock-down-and-drag-out
- evil-minded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- gentle
- sensitive
- sympathetic
- mild
- kind
- merciful
- charitable
- kindly
- tender
- humane
- benevolent
- compassionate
- benignant
- kindhearted
- cordial
- friendly
- lenient
- warmhearted
- indulgent
- tenderhearted
- softhearted
- gracious
- clement
- tolerant
- affectionate
- loving
- good-natured
- understanding
- fond
- good-tempered