stiff

¹stiff

adj \ˈstif\

Definition of STIFF

1

a : not easily bent : rigid <a stiff collar> b : lacking in suppleness or flexibility <stiff muscles> c : impeded in movement —used of a mechanism <a truck's stiff suspension> d : drunk 1a

2

a : firm, resolute b : stubborn, unyielding c : proud d (1) : marked by reserve or decorum (2) : lacking in ease or grace : stilted

3

: hard fought <stiff competition>

4

a (1) : exerting great force <a stiff wind> (2) : forceful, vigorous b : potent <poured her a stiff drink>

5

: of a dense or glutinous consistency : thick

6

a : harsh, severe <a stiff penalty> b : arduous, rugged <stiff terrain>

7

: not easily heeled over by an external force (as the wind) <a stiff ship>

8

: expensive, steep <paid a stiff price>

— stiff·ish \ˈsti-fish\ adjective

— stiff·ly adverb

— stiff·ness noun

Examples of STIFF

1. When I got out of bed this morning my back was stiff as a board.
2. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.

Origin of STIFF

Middle English stif, from Old English stīf; akin to Middle Dutch stijf stiff, Latin stipare to press together, Greek steibein to tread on

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STIFF

Synonyms: inflexible, rigid, stiffened, unyielding

Antonyms: flexible, floppy, pliable, pliant, supple, yielding

Related Words: inelastic; firm, hard, solid, sound, strong; brittle, crisp; compact, dense, substantial; arthritic, rheumatic; nonelastic, nonmalleable

Near Antonyms: elastic, resilient, springy, stretchy, workable; malleable, plastic; semiflexible; droopy, flabby, flaccid, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy; lank, limber, limp, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, willowy

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of STIFF

stiff, rigid, inflexible mean difficult to bend. stiff may apply to any degree of this condition <stretching keeps your muscles from becoming stiff>. rigid applies to something so stiff that it cannot be bent without breaking <a rigid surfboard>. inflexible stresses lack of suppleness or pliability <ski boots with inflexible soles>.

Rhymes with STIFF

biff, cliff, diff, glyph, if, iff, jiff, miff, quiff, riff, skiff, sniff, spiff, spliff, syph, tiff, whiff