Definitions

matter-of-fact

ADJECTIVE

realistic, unembellished

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deadpan down-to-earth factual pragmatic sober stoic unvarnished

WEAK

apathetic calm cold cold-blooded dry dull earthy emotionless feasible flat hard-boiled impassive impersonal lifeless mundane naked objective phlegmatic plain practical prosaic prosy serious stolid unaffected unidealistic unimaginative unimpassioned unsentimental

Antonyms

STRONGEST

excited unreasonable

WEAK

emotional histrionic imaginative lively

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In her own matter-of-fact way, Grohl shrugs as she acknowledges the inescapable pressure of her last name.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

“All the President’s Men” underscores that sentiment with its matter-of-fact final shot, watching a teletype machine writing out years of front-page headlines leading to Nixon’s resignation.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Mr. Herzog, who with his intensely dramatic yet dryly matter-of-fact vocal stylings lends the feature his typically scintillating narration, follows him on a journey to Namibia and Angola in search of the ghost elephants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The tone was matter-of-fact, direct, resolute, but moments of fear crept in.

From Slate • Feb. 11, 2026

I couldn’t believe he was being so matter-of-fact about the whole thing.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

Vocabulary lists containing matter-of-fact

"Birches" by Robert Frost

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Unit 2, Words to Know

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Neutral Tones

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