wooden

UK: /ˈwʊd^ən/ US: /ˈwʊdən/ ,(wŏŏd′n)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

wood•en /ˈwʊdən/   adj. 

1. made of wood:
   a large wooden crate.
2. stiff, ungainly, or awkward:
   walking with slow, wooden steps.
3. lacking life, spirit, or animation;
   dull;
   spiritless:
   gave a wooden answer to the question.

wood•en•ly, adv. 
wood•en•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

wood•en  (wŏŏd′n), adj. 

1. consisting or made of wood;
   wood:
   a wooden ship.
2. stiff, ungainly, or awkward:
   a wooden gait.
3. without spirit, animation, or awareness.
4. dull or stupid.
5. indicating the fifth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

• wood¹ + -en² 1530–40

wood′en•ly, adv. 
wood′en•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. . expressionless, vacant, lifeless, impassive.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wooden / ˈwʊd^ən/ adjective

1. made from or consisting of wood
2. awkward or clumsy
3. bereft of spirit or animation: a wooden expression
4. obstinately unyielding: a wooden attitude
5. slow to comprehend; unintelligent
6. not highly resonant: a wooden thud

ˈwoodenly adverb