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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of stiff
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The stiff formality of this view sets it apart from all the others.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Say goodbye to stiff towels with these tips for how to make towels soft again.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 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
While this type of furniture can lend itself to a room feeling stiff and stuffy, The Douglas’ rooms feel lived in and inviting.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The stiff formality of this view sets it apart from all the others.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
And for the legions of blue-collar stiffs just like him.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Say goodbye to stiff towels with these tips for how to make towels soft again.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Noun
Shelton had enjoyed success with Bull Durham and White Men Can’t Jump, but his Oscar-y drama Cobb had been a stiff.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 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
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Unlike traditional approaches, HydroSpread lets ultrathin polymer films form directly on water, eliminating the fragile and error-prone step of transferring films from rigid surfaces.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
-
For Williams, slow dating isn’t about rigid rules or waiting 90 days before intimacy.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
An editor approached me with a tough assignment of tasting, evaluating and reviewing a chicken Caesar wrap.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The news that Aleksander Barkov will all but assuredly miss all of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on Friday to repair the ACL and MCL in right knee was tough for the Florida Panthers to hear.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The reports obtained by The Post show a barrage of complaints from youth that staff used excessive force during restraints or other physical management responses at the state’s 14 facilities.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
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With extended heat exposure comes excessive sweat, so drinking plenty of fluids with electrolytes the day before is essential for safe sauna use.—
Essence,
Essence,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of those have of a combination of both, but MetLife Stadium is hard of playing surface as there is in the league.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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When Jason Wald, VP of production, pitched him on Longlegs with a two-minute clip, his instinct was to give the film a hard no.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker Anat Joseph agreed, noting that gestures like sending scented clothing blur platonic boundaries and can understandably make a partner uncomfortable.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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However, forecasters note that the relative humidity at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be an uncomfortable 85 percent Saturday and 82 percent Sunday.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have argued that travel to Moshannon is far more difficult for members of the defense team based in Nashville, and not easier for those in New York.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
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Senator Collins has proven in the past to be able to win in very difficult environments, 2008 being an example of that.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is his first full album since the end of the YSL trial and his formal release from prison, following his guilty plea on October 31, 2024.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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Still, if the DNI made a formal recommendation, the State Department is the issuing authority for foreign terrorist organization (FTO) designations.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, spanned topics like the powers of drunk texting, who should really have ghostwritten Britney Spears' memoir and what Edward Cullen has under those pants.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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Enraged and drunk, Arthur heads to the brewery and attempts to call out his brother.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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