StoicismAn ancient philosophy that teaches self-control and acceptance of hardship. can mean a calm lack of reactionAn immediate response to something that happens or is felt. to pain or pleasure, or it can refer to the ancient philosophy associatedClosely connected or linked with something else. with the Stoics. In everyday English, the first meaning is the one most people usually mean.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈstoʊɪˌsɪzəm/
Easy pronunciation: STOH-ih-SIZ-um (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: STOH-ih-SIZ-um.
Pronunciation for the noun meaning calm indifference to pain or pleasure, not the philosophy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Stoicism Meaning
calmness or lack of visible feeling, especially when facing pain or hardship
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an indifference to pleasure or pain
Example: She showed stoicism during the long wait in the hospital.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- stolidity — A close noun synonym for unemotional calm or dull lack of feeling.
- stolidness — A close noun synonym for unemotional calm or a lack of outward reaction.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Stoicism
Meaning 2
the ancient Stoic philosophy that teaches self-control and virtue
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the philosophical system of the Stoics following the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno
Example: He studied Stoicism to better understand ancient philosophy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Stoicism Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- stolidity
- stolidness
the philosophical system of the Stoics following the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno
- Stoic philosophy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse stoicism, the philosophy, with stoic as an adjective meaning calm and unemotional.
- The word does not simply mean 'not caring'; it usually suggests controlled endurance or emotional restraint.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does stoicism mean?
Stoicism usually means calm, unemotional endurance in the face of difficulty. It can also refer to the ancient philosophy of the Stoics.
What are synonyms for stoicism?
For the everyday meaning, close synonyms include stolidity and stolidness. For the philosophy sense, Stoic philosophy is the clearest description.
Is stoicism always a bad thing?
No. In many contexts it is neutral or positive, because it can suggest self-control and resilience rather than coldness.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.