stiff
adjective
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Definition of stiff
(Entry 1 of 4)
stiff
adverbDefinition of stiff (Entry 2 of 4)
stiff
nounDefinition of stiff (Entry 3 of 4)
stiff
verbDefinition of stiff (Entry 4 of 4)
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Other Words from stiff
Adjective
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adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for stiff
Synonyms: Adjective
inflexible, rigid, stiffened, unyielding
Synonyms: Noun
bones, cadaver, carcass, corpse, corpus, corse [archaic], relics, remains
Synonyms: Verb
cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub, stiff-arm
Antonyms: Adjective
flexible, floppy, pliable, pliant, supple, yielding
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Examples of stiff in a Sentence
Adjective
When I got out of bed this morning my back was stiff as a board. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.Noun
That poor stiff never gets a break. They have the kind of luxuries the average working stiff can't afford.Verb
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Coach Catherine Batchelder noted that her program made it a point to schedule more games this season, and to take on stiffer competition. — Liam O’brien, BostonGlobe.com, "Sticking with a three-team race in the Middlesex Liberty," 16 May 2018 The results offer more signs that Under Armour is on the mend after stiffer competition — mainly from Adidas AG — slowed growth. — Fortune, "Under Armour Shares Pop After Earnings Report Gives Investors a Reason to Believe Again," 1 May 2018 Under Armour has been battling stiffer competition -- mainly from Adidas AG -- which has slowed growth. — Matthew Townsend, Bloomberg.com, "Under Armour Sinks After Forecasting Wider-Than-Expected Loss," 1 May 2018 While flying is the fastest way to get to Chicago from the East Coast, shuttle flights face stiffer competition from Amtrak in the Boston-New York-Washington corridor. — Zach Wichter, New York Times, "A New Shuttle Service, Minus the 1980s Frills," 12 Feb. 2018 In April, a circular from the country’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry proposing stiff penalties for journalists who post fake news was pulled in less than 24 hours after widespread outcry. — Annie Gowen, Washington Post, "As mob lynchings fueled by WhatsApp sweep India, authorities struggle to combat fake news," 2 July 2018 He stiff-armed Cornelius Sturghill in the open field and broke contain on a couple of other occasions. — Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, "Brian VanGorder’s first Louisville defense is a work in progress with lots of new faces," 14 Apr. 2018 Then Vargas stiff-armed one defender and threw a pass 50 yards down the field off of one leg. — Ben Baskin, SI.com, "No Helmets, No Pads, Full-Contact Tackle Football: Meet the Men of the A7FL," 4 Apr. 2018 While some sanctions can be automatically triggered following an assessment of interference, the stiffest penalties may only be imposed at the president’s direction. — Dustin Volz, WSJ, "U.S. Sees No Foreign Compromise of Election Systems in 2018 Midterms," 21 Dec. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
Mariota has heard a lot from friends and fans on how he stiff-armed Jaguars safety Barry Church. — USA TODAY, "X-factor: A running Mariota gives Titans another dimension," 3 Jan. 2018 Their valuable middle infielders — shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (sore left knee) and second baseman Neil Walker (stiff back) — are dealing with the reappearance of injuries. — James Wagner, New York Times, "Walk-off Homer by Yoenis Cespedes Lifts Mets in Crucial Series Opener," 29 Aug. 2016Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Recently, though, a new crop of companies has emerged with the aim of helping working stiffs take their jobs on the road. — Elizabeth G. Dunn, WSJ, "How to Work Remotely—In an Exotic New City Each Month," 29 Aug. 2018 The dolls are realistically animated, using the faces of real actors (including Merritt Weaver and Janelle Monáe) atop stiff, plasticine bodies. — Jesse Hassenger, The Verge, "Welcome to Marwen is Robert Zemeckis’ most revealing movie — and his worst," 20 Dec. 2018 Potential investors are invited to rise from hardworking stiffs to those traveling first class to their vacation homes. — WSJ, "There Are Reasons for Full Startup Disclosures," 22 July 2018 Correa has been nursing a stiff back since going on the disabled list June 26. — Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, "Astros' Carlos Correa out until after All-Star break," 13 July 2018 By the end of spring training, despite a stiff back, Doc showed everyone his stuff was more than major league ready. — Davey Johnson, SI.com, "What It Was Like to Manage a Rookie Doc Gooden, the Gritty Wally Backman and the New York Mets," 1 June 2018 Two stiffs staring at eternity was perhaps a bit more dramatic than a letter, telegram or text. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Silence in Chicago’s mayoral race: The missing Latino candidate and the Sun-Times chairman’s deal with Rahm’s money man," 12 May 2018 Big Ben: bomb double, medium-size, dark red flowers grow on stiff stems and are fragrant; foliage stays handsome through summer. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "How To Grow Your Own Gorgeous Peonies," 9 Mar. 2017 Artist Dayanita Singh was fed up with the stiff, sterile environments her photography was being exhibited in. — Julissa Treviño, Smithsonian, "Pocket-Sized Exhibition Shows Museum Experience Is Not One Size Fits All," 20 Apr. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Documentarian Kathleen Glynn is cranking up the Fahrenheit on her fellow filmmaker-ex husband Michael Moore, hauling him to court for allegedly stiffing her on profits from their movie projects. — Julia Marsh, Fox News, "Ex-wife claims Michael Moore stiffed her out of movie profits," 7 Sep. 2018 Compare that figure with the percentage of Gen Xers and baby boomers who admitted stiffing the wait staff: 1.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. — Tim Carman, chicagotribune.com, "Millennials tip the least, but it may not be for the reasons you think," 7 July 2018 Compare that figure with the percentage of Gen Xers and baby boomers who admitted stiffing the wait staff: 1.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. — Tim Carman, chicagotribune.com, "Millennials tip the least, but it may not be for the reasons you think," 7 July 2018 Last month, a federal bankruptcy court ordered Eagan Avenatti to pay $10 million to attorney Jason Frank, who used to work at the firm and claimed the company stiffed him on the first installment of a $4.85 million settlement. — Brooke Singman, Fox News, "Stormy Daniels' legal fund could be targeted in case against attorney Avenatti," 13 June 2018 Compare that figure with the percentage of Gen Xers and baby boomers who admitted stiffing the wait staff: 1.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. — Tim Carman, chicagotribune.com, "Millennials tip the least, but it may not be for the reasons you think," 7 July 2018 Compare that figure with the percentage of Gen Xers and baby boomers who admitted stiffing the wait staff: 1.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. — Tim Carman, chicagotribune.com, "Millennials tip the least, but it may not be for the reasons you think," 7 July 2018 Normally, the story should have ended there, with a poor man being stiffed by a more powerful one. — Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, "The Case of the Purloined Poultry: How ISIS Prosecuted Petty Crime," 1 July 2018 Compare that figure with the percentage of Gen Xers and baby boomers who admitted stiffing the wait staff: 1.8 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. — Tim Carman, chicagotribune.com, "Millennials tip the least, but it may not be for the reasons you think," 7 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stiff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for stiff
stiff
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of stiff
(Entry 1 of 4)
stiff
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of stiff (Entry 2 of 4)
stiff
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of stiff (Entry 3 of 4)
stiff
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of stiff (Entry 4 of 4)
See the full definition for stiff in the English Language Learners Dictionary
stiff
adjective
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Kids Definition of stiff
stiff
adjective
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Medical Definition of stiff
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