Dictionary

unflappable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ʌnˈflæpəbəl/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English flap Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English unflappable From un- + flap (“to upset, stir”) + -able.

Meanings

1. Remaining composed and level-headed at all times; impossible to fluster; not becoming frustrated or irritated easily.
   • Whereas his predecessor was impetuous, Obama was praised for being contemplative and unflappable. Bush had a gut; Obama had a brain. 2010 September 26, Gary Younge, “Obama won as cool and unflappable. But presidents need to act angry too”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 Aug 2024:
   • It took a lot to get Wheeler's pulse going, but Lillian's dangerous joke had done the job. The otherwise unflappable woman was flushed with adrenaline. 2023 October 22, HarryBlank, “Waiting to Happen”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 23 May 2024:
   • It was for this reason that when Lord Hailsham first described Harold Macmillan as "unflappable'", it became an instant catchword, distancing the incoming Prime Minister from his predecessor 1978, James D. Margach, The abuse of power: the war between Downing Street and the media from Lloyd George to Callaghan:
   • The whole thing looked remarkably like an implacable force meeting an unflappable object. 1959, The Economist, volume 190:
   • Hill’s unflappable performance capped an extraordinary two weeks of public testimony, in which 12 witnesses testified during seven public hearings. 2019 November 22, Lauren Gambino, “'Absolute fearlessness': women take impeachment spotlight and speak truth as Trump fumes”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 01 Jan 2020:

Forms

Antonyms

flappable

Relateds

flappable · unflappably · unflappability · unflappableness

Synonyms

apathetic · apathistical · pococurante · unconcerned · jaded · listless · meh · dispassionate · nonplussed · untouched · world-weary · torpedinous · uncaring · cool · cool · adiaphroistic · unaroused · dull · halfhearted · lotophagous · blithe · ineffervescible · tepid · lackadaisical · mopey · nonchalant · unenthusiastic · uninterested · indifferent · torpid · deaf · languorous · shiftless · even-keeled · otiose · unimpressible · lethargic · unzealous · unmoved · blasé · enervated · heartless · collected · supine · lukewarm · unlively · impassive · imperturbable · insouciant · phlegmatic · spiritless · Laodicean · gallionic · insensible · languid

Translations (20)

sv oberörd (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu rendíthetetlen (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · ru невозмути́мый (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · fr imperturbable (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · es imperturbable (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu kizökkenthetetlen (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · uk незвору́шний (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · pl niewzruszony (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu higgadt (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · sv orubblig (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu szenvtelen (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · de unerschütterlich (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · nl onverstoorbaar (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · ca impertorbable (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · fi järkähtämätön (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu nyugodt (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · sv osårbar (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · bg невъзмутим (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · mk нево́збуден (remaining composed and level-headed at all times) · hu blazírt (remaining composed and level-headed at all times)