stiff-arm

1 of 2

verb

ˈstif-ˌärm 

stiff-armed; stiff-arming; stiff-arms

intransitive verb

: straight-arm

transitive verb

1

: straight-arm

2

: to treat with disdain or neglect : slight, snub

The downside of stiff-arming the press is that reporters bear a grudge …

—Fred Barnes

stiff-arm

2 of 2

noun

: straight-arm

Synonyms of stiff-arm

Verb

• isolate
• stiff
• reject
• repulse
• cut
• cold-shoulder
• repel
• snub
• slight

Examples of stiff-arm in a Sentence

Verb

in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Some artists have extended that direct-to-fan ethos to press, giving traditional journalism the stiff-arm. — John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026

With the administration likely to again stiff-arm their requests, seeking corporate communications with Trump officials could be an easier way in. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 June 2026

Noun

Dart finished that run by winding up a big stiff-arm for Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg #84 of the Wyoming Cowboys stiff-arms cornerback Noah Avinger #1 of the New Mexico Lobos during the first half of a game at University Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stiff-arm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm