deadpan

comparative more deadpan · superlative most deadpan · alternative dead-pan · alternative dead pan

1. Deliberately impassive or expressionless.

   a deadpan face or look

   1 more example

   deadpan behaviour or speech

2. Having such a face or look.

   The comedian remained deadpan.

comparative more deadpan · superlative most deadpan · alternative dead-pan · alternative dead pan

1. In a deadpan manner.

   A city-hired consultant from a firm called Urban Futures was booed repeatedly by the agitated homeowners as he talked deadpan, in bureaucratese, about his firm's "evidentiary record" pointing to blight in the neighborhood.

   2004, Steven Greenhut, Abuse of Power: How the Government Misuses Eminent Domain, page 46

alternative dead-pan · alternative dead pan

1. uncountableA style of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression.

   MAREK: But really the deadpan is key. You can essentially trick people into laughing at nothing.

   2007, Meredith Gran, Octopus Pie #71: Deadpan

   Synonyms: deadpan comedy, deadpan humour

present singular third person deadpans · participle present deadpanning · participle past deadpanned · past deadpanned · alternative dead-pan · alternative dead pan

1. To express (something) in an impassive or expressionless manner.

   Kidd deadpanned it, stared glassily back at Maitland.

   2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 496