Definition of stiff
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a
: 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 sense 1a
b
: stubborn, unyielding
c
: proud
d(1)
: marked by reserve or decorum
(2)
: lacking in ease or grace : stilted
3
: hard fought
stiff competition
b
: potent
poured her a stiff drink
5
: of a dense or glutinous consistency : thick
7
: not easily heeled over by an external force (such as the wind)
a stiff ship
stiff
adverbDefinition of stiff (Entry 2 of 4)
stiff
nounDefinition of stiff (Entry 3 of 4)
stiff
verb
stiffed; stiffing; stiffs
Definition of stiff (Entry 4 of 4)
1a
: to refuse to pay or tip
stiffed the waiter
b
: cheat
stiffed him in a business deal
c
: stick sense 7a
stiffed us with the bar bill
2
: snub sense 3
stiffed sportswriters after the game
: to fail commercially
the movie stiffed at the box office
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Who Knew?
-
- What is a ruelle?

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share stiff
Time Traveler for stiff
The first known use of stiff was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century