1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
difficult to endure
stiff winds
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3
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?
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4
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough
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5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit
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7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me
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8
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol
seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him
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1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
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2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company claiming to sell designer handbags
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1
2
as in person
a member of the human race
one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stiff
Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring constantly using a wooden spoon or stiff rubber spatula, until mixture forms a ball and bottom of pan has developed a thin film, about 2 minutes.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
He is preoccupied with squaring the circle: purveying great, affordable coffee that doesn’t stiff the producer.
—Nina Caplan, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
But there is another man, intermediately, in this room: a working stiff named William Donloe, played by Rolf Saxon.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
There is so much artistry here, but eating in the restaurant is a comfortable pleasure, never stiff.
—Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring constantly using a wooden spoon or stiff rubber spatula, until mixture forms a ball and bottom of pan has developed a thin film, about 2 minutes.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
There was frost on the inside of the windows, clothes stiff on the floor.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
He is preoccupied with squaring the circle: purveying great, affordable coffee that doesn’t stiff the producer.
—Nina Caplan, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Noun
After one of his clients stiffs him, Veneno runs into Muñeco (Osvaldo Sanchez), a trucker in his 40s who spends long weeks away from his estranged family, drinking and doing drugs to stay awake on the job.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
But there is another man, intermediately, in this room: a working stiff named William Donloe, played by Rolf Saxon.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
While skinny jeans hug the body tightly from waist to leg, straight-leg jeans tend to be more rigid and fit slightly looser, especially through the lower part of the leg.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
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How underparenting is similar to other parenting styles As with slow parenting, underparenting doesn’t stick to a rigid routine—there is space to change plans and make space in their schedule for downtime.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Its bladeless construction is designed to pull in air and powerfully circulate it around the room, all without accumulating excessive dust like standard fans do—a double plus in my book.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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And although its fats are healthy, excessive intake can still contribute to unwanted pounds.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But competing with Swift is basically impossible for anyone, which makes this report a little hard to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Potato plants can survive a light freeze, but a hard freeze below 30 degrees will kill them off.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In its eerie, uncomfortable depiction of Derry as a toxic version of the all-American town, the series is sometimes more powerful than when Pennywise jumps at the screen.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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There’s certainly an authenticity to this development; who among us hasn’t procrastinated when facing an uncomfortable decision?—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One of the world’s most persistent waste problems, plastics are durable and difficult to recycle.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
-
But grass is difficult to digest for the mammal.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home spanned about 3,800 square feet, with wood-burning fireplaces gracing the formal living and dining rooms on the main floor.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
23 Oct. 2025
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Reason for Wausau's closure isn't clear In the letter, a formal notification that complies with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, Wausau's group vice president of the snow and ice division, JP Bourque, did not indicate the reason for the company's closure.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When morality clauses first appeared in Hollywood in the 1920s, they were meant to protect studios from scandal—actors getting drunk, producers getting indicted, the usual mayhem.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Clara, grieving in her own way, sneaks out, gets drunk and high and sees her boyfriend without her mom’s permission.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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