1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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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
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
These are classic compensation patterns for stiff ankles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 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
The Rams were hunting up a touchdown for Allen against the Saints last week and would have gotten it if not for a facemask penalty on a stiff arm by the third-year tight end.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
These are classic compensation patterns for stiff ankles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 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
-
The next morning, Burgher parents—oblivious to the fighting that had broken out in the capital—had lined the walkways and cheered as their children filed into schools with pencils and notebooks and tense faces, some bravely managing a smile, others rigid with fear.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The current electronic components (made of metals like titanium or rigid silicon) could lead to major challenges when implanted inside the human body.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Of all my books, Helm has been so hard and so lovingly written.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Regardless, making amends with Ronnie is harder than Lilly would like.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
My seat is hard and uncomfortable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Whoever dispatched that ambulance might be one of many employees at the Department of Emergency Communications who have felt uncomfortable, yelled at and trapped between their calling to help people and what several current and former dispatchers have called a hostile work environment.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In Akita, local authorities requested formal military assistance from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, saying their existing measures – including box traps and bear repellent sprays – weren’t enough.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Being Running Fence’s associate project director was my first formal job in the arts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The image featured a glass of white wine next to a cup of green juice that was partially drunk.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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