English vocabulary · C1
Flinty
/ˈflɪnti/ · adj.
Flinty means showing no soft feeling or kindness.
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Example sentences
- The judge gave him a flinty stare.
- Her flinty reply ended the request.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- flint — hard stone (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- COLD — not friendly or caring (Shows No Warmth)
- HARD — strict and unyielding (Will Not Soften)
- STERN — not gentle or relaxed (Firm And Serious)
Words with the same root
flint — hard stone
- flint — a very hard stone
Lesson notes
Flinty means showing no soft feeling or kindness.
Related: cold, hard, stern. Use flinty when a person shows no warmth or kindness.
The judge gave him a flinty stare. Her flinty reply ended the request.
From Old English. flint means hard stone. Flint throws sparks but never bends. That stony hardness gives flinty its cold force.