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Mr. Tom Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Impassive and placid

Hi

Could you please tell me the (perhaps subtle) difference between these two words?

Impassive [showing no emotions]

Placid [calm]

Can I use them in everyday English?

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Hi, You already seem to be aware of the difference. impassive - focuses on one's appearance placid - focuses on one's nature Just normal words. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, You already seem to be aware of the difference.
  • impassive - focuses on one's appearance placid - focuses on one's nature Just normal words.
  • Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

You already seem to be aware of the difference.

impassive - focuses on one's appearance

placid - focuses on one's nature

Just normal words.

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Impassive is usually used in the context of a normally emotional experience:

The prisoner sat impassively as the jury convicted him of murder and gave him the death sentence.

Placid is usually used in more general contexts:

The lion placidly and lazily rested in the hot sun.

The lake was placid today; it's surface was like glass.
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Impassive gives the idea of not being expressive; "straight-faced" is a synonym. You can use impassive to mean "calm", but it can also be used for negative descriptions like "cold" or "stony".

Placid is used to describe a person who doesn't get excited easily, which doesn't mean showing no emotions like impassive. Also, placid gives the sense of "peaceful" (often when describing a body of
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