stoney

word

Definition

Covered with or full of stones, or describing a person who is emotionally cold or expressionless.

Usage & Nuances

'Stoney' is mainly an adjective for ground, roads, or surfaces with lots of stones, but can also mean emotionally cold (literary or formal contexts). Often confused with 'stony' (the standard spelling); 'stoney' is more common in British English place names. Not used for 'high on drugs'—that's 'stoned.'

Example Sentences

The path was stoney and hard to walk on.

basic

Her voice was cold and stoney.

basic

The beach was covered with stoney ground.

basic

Her apology came out in a stoney tone, as if she didn’t really mean it.

natural

He looked at me with a stoney expression, saying nothing.

natural

My car tires got stuck on a stoney hill outside town.

natural