What Does the 😐 Neutral Face Emoji Mean?

There's more to this cryptic emoji than you might expect

Co-authored by Finn Kobler Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: August 9, 2024 Fact Checked

Oh, the 😐 (neutral face) emoji. Don’t let its detached nature fool you. There are a lot of nuances to the feelings behind this face—from its well-masked frustration via text to its deadpan comedy on social media. Struggling to figure out all of the subtleties to the straight face emoji? Don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of all the different meanings, intricacies, and reactions to the straight-faced emoji. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to use and reply to 😐 with ease!

Section 1 of 3:

What does the 😐 (neutral face) emoji mean?

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Unsurprisingly, one of the primary meanings for the neutral face emoji is neutrality and detachment. When someone is presented with an option they don’t particularly like but don’t particularly dislike, they may use 😐 to show how they’re feeling. ^{[1]
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Sometimes people may use the neutral face emoji to convey their apathy for a subject altogether. Like the similar 😑 (expressionless) emoji, 😐 (neutral face) can show you find something tedious or dull even if you appear impartial on the surface.

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The expressive eyes, but closed mouth, of the neutral face emoji can convey that someone is feeling a certain way but does not want to say anything about it. Despite having thoughts, they are trying to show discretion. It’s a poker face. ^{[2]
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The neutral emoji is often used to convey a sense of dread or deep concern.
Sometimes, people will use the neutral face emoji ironically to show they are irritated or put off by something. If you’ve said something controversial and somebody replies with 😐, chances are they disapprove or you’ve upset them. ^{[3]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
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The straight-faced emoji can mean someone is feeling let down. Compared to the many options for happy face emojis and not quite as over-the-top as the crying emojis like 😭 (loudly crying emoji) and 😢 (crying face emoji), people may use 😐 to show that, while they’re not devastated, they are displeased. ^{[4]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
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The neutral face is a good alternative to the 😊 (blushing) emoji when you’ve been humiliated and feel awkward rather than smiley. ^{[5]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Use the 😐 (Neutral Face) Emoji

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1
Stay a neutral party by replying with 😐. Presented with two options but excited by neither? Asked to mediate an argument where you think both sides are in the wrong? The neutral face emoji is a great response for showing you’re unbiased and/or ready to move on.
- “I’m not sure I agree with either point 😐”
- “Not feeling any of those shirts 😐”
- “Maybe you’re both in the wrong 😐”
2
Emphasize how dull things are with a straight face. Life can be tedious. If you’re in an exhausting lecture hall or someone in your boardroom just won’t stop talking, use 😐 to commiserate with your friends over the monotony of it all.
- “We were supposed to get out of class ten minutes ago 😐”
- “He just keeps talking 😐”
- “My face this entire movie: 😐”
3
Show a neutral face to keep your cards close to your chest. The straight-faced emoji is very tight-lipped. If you want to show you have a lot on your mind, but don’t feel like sharing it, using 😐 is a great way to do that.
- “Still thinking about it 😐”
- “Guess what just happened? 😐”
- “Let me get back to you 😐”
4
Express concern with 😐. Despite its name, the neutral face emoji isn’t entirely neutral. Its fretful undertones make it a great emoji to convey distress or sympathy. ^{[6]
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- “Have you gotten your test results back? 😐”
- “Did you hear the news? 😐”
- “Jeremy hasn’t called 😐”
5
Use 😐 to punctuate your frustrations. The straight-faced emoji is a perfect way to convey you’re upset or aggravated by something, even if there’s nothing you can do. Rather than angry faces like 😡 (pouting face emoji) or even 🤬 (face with symbols on mouth emoji), the neutral face helps demonstrate that you’re annoyed, but not going to waste your energy. ^{[7]
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- “Missed the bus and the next one doesn’t arrive for 2 hours 😐”
- “The store is closed 😐”
- “The concert sold out right as I clicked ‘purchase ticket’ 😐”
6
Convey your disappointment with 😐. The straight face is a good symbol for defeat. If something during your day hasn’t gone your way, this emoji is an effective way to channel that.
- “Didn’t get the internship 😐”
- “Movie theater was out of licorice 😐”
- “I can’t make it tonight 😐”
7
Embellish your embarrassment. The 😐 emoji shows mortification. If you feel self-conscious about something you’ve done or something that’s happened to you recently, diffuse the tension with a 😐. ^{[8]
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- “Just sprinted to class only to go to the wrong room 😐”
- “Fell off my skateboard in front of like 80 people 😐”
- ”Spent 45 seconds trying to pull a door that clearly said ‘push’ 😐”
8
Reply to a joke you don’t like with a straight face. People try hard to make each other laugh over text and on social media. If you see a joke that offends you or you’re just sick of Dad using that same pun he’s made every day for 3 years in a row, reply with a deadpan 😐 to tell the “comedian” responsible that you read or saw their dumb bit and were completely unamused. ^{[9]
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- “Very funny 😐”
- “Ha. Ha. 😐”
- “Did you come up with that on your own? 😐”

Section 3 of 3:

How to Reply to the 😐 (Neutral Face) Emoji

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1
Quip back to detachment with a big reaction. If someone gives you a reaction of neutrality, fight back by taking a side. Whether it’s the 😁 (grinning emoji) or the 😔(dejected emoji), counter their digital apathy with a big emotional choice.
- “Gee, someone’s excited 😂”
- “You don’t like it? 😢”
- “C’mon! It’ll be fun! 😊”
2
Discuss more entertaining things if they’re bored. Don’t let the neutral face emoji’s flatness plague the conversation. If someone is using 😐, change the subject to something that excites them. When in doubt, remember people love to talk about themselves!
- “I heard you had a crazy weekend! Tell me about it!”
- “What’s the most useless talent you have?”
- “Did you see the game on Sunday? ⚽”
3
Get more context if they’re being secretive. If someone is using the straight-faced emoji to convey that something’s bothering them, but they’re not telling you what, dig a little deeper to see where they’re at emotionally. ^{[10]
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- “Everything okay? What’s up?
- “Awww has something been on your mind lately?”
- ”You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
4
Relax them if they’re worried. If 😐 is being used in the context of someone’s stresses or concerns, try to offer comfort and give them peace of mind.
- “I’m sure it’s no big deal.”
- “You can bounce back from this!”
- “You’re better than him anyway!”
5
Justify yourself if they’re upset. Nearly all the connotations of the neutral face emoji are reactive and negative, ranging from confusion to discontent. If someone has sent you 😐, odds are they’re responding to something you said in a negative way. Be sure to explain your reasoning so they can see the positive value. ^{[11]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- ”I just think it’d save us time if we ran our errands beforehand 🤷”
- ”I know how it sounds, but I really think this is our best plan.”
- “Please trust me. I’ve done this before.”
6
Apologize if they feel let down. When someone is using the straight-faced emoji to convey their displeasure with your actions, rather than getting defensive, sometimes it’s best to just say sorry. ^{[12]
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- “Sorry. Was that uncomfortable?”
- “Mea culpa”
- “Whoops, my bad 😐😅”
7
Change the subject if things get awkward. Embarrassing things happen all the time. If someone has replied 😐 because the conversation’s gotten awkward, switch to a new topic rather than dwelling on it. ^{[13]
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- “So you got any plans for the weekend?”
- “Not your thing, huh? 😅 Well, what do you like?”
- “That’s rough. Well, at least you learned.”