Definitions

stony

[stoh-nee] / ˈstoʊ ni /

ADJECTIVE

hard, icy in appearance, response

Synonyms

STRONGEST

expressionless frigid

WEAK

adamant blank callous chilly cold cold-blooded coldhearted cruel firm hard-boiled hardened heartless hostile indifferent inexorable inflexible merciless obdurate pitiless rough tough uncompassionate unfeeling unforgiving unrelenting unresponsive unsympathetic

Antonyms

WEAK

friendly smiling soft warm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The colors offer precious flashes of charm in this novel’s harsh, stony setting.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Forgotten animal pens, decaying cages and stony backdrops now sit in various states of abandonment.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

But it was his grittiest—and that’s all Indiana needed for its famously stony coach to drop the scowl.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

His audience, which included a huge number of world leaders, sat in stony silence.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

It had started over dinner, and by the time he’d gone to bed his parents had lapsed into a stony, stubborn silence.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Vocabulary lists containing stony

The Crucible

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Secret Garden

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!