# stony

/ˈstoʊni/ (US) · /stˈəʊni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stony
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. full of stones

adjective · CEFR B1

covered with or full of small rocks and stones.

For teachers: abounding in or consisting of stones; physically rocky.

- The stony path made it difficult for the children to walk in their sandals.
- The hikers struggled to maintain their footing on the stony ridge, where loose shale shifted under every step.

### 2. unfriendly or cold

adjective · CEFR B2

showing no emotion or being very unfriendly, especially in a way that feels cold.

For teachers: showing a lack of emotion or sympathy; cold, rigid, or unresponsive in expression.

- He greeted my suggestion with a stony silence that made me feel unwelcome.
- The witness maintained a stony expression throughout the cross-examination, refusing to let any hint of guilt or fear show on his face.

### 3. without money

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Slang

having no money at all.

For teachers: a shortened form of 'stony broke', indicating a complete lack of financial resources.

- I'd love to go to the cinema, but I'm absolutely stony until payday.
- After a week of expensive dinners and shopping, the students found themselves stony and unable to afford the train fare home.

### 4. hard like stone

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

very hard, like a rock.

For teachers: possessing a physical hardness or texture comparable to stone.

- The bread had been left out so long it had become stony and inedible.
- The ancient soil had been baked by the sun into a stony crust that no plough could penetrate.

## Examples

- She gave him a stony look when he tried to apologize.
- The witness remained stony throughout the trial, refusing to show any remorse for his actions.
- His proposal was met with a stony silence that chilled the room, making it clear that no further negotiation would be tolerated by the board.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.