Entry Word: stiff

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 incapable of or highly resistant to bending <use a stiff piece of paper for the project>

Synonyms inflexible, rigid, stiffened, unyielding

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; droopy, flabby, flaccid, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy; lank, limber, limp, lissome (also lissom), lithe, willowy

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

2 difficult to endure <stiff winds> — see harsh 1
3 going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount <donʼt you think taking away his bike for three months is rather stiff punishment?> — see excessive
4 having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure <stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough> — see firm 2
5 lacking social grace and assurance <felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her fatherʼs friends> — see awkward 1
6 requiring considerable physical or mental effort <getting this couch up to the third floor is going to be a stiff job> — see hard 2