stuffier; stuffiest
1
4
a
: narrowly inflexible in standards of conduct : self-righteous
b
: stiffly conventional : priggish
stuffy formalities
Examples of stuffy in a Sentence
It's very stuffy in here.
She had a stuffy nose.
I had a stuffy feeling in my head.
the stuffiest members of that exclusive club
Recent Examples on the Web
Flu symptoms can include aches, cough, fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose, according to the CDC.
—
Sara Schilling, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
The late Tom Wolfe, rubbing his hands with glee and spilling lemonade on his white suit, would be delighted that tradition has now taken its revenge on stuffy Bauhaus Europeanism, and maybe rightly so.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Armani, who had already introduced unstructured jackets for men and women, was part of the generation of designers who ushered in a less formal fashion era, one that would allow men and women to look refined without looking stuffy.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
For the more formal premiere this evening, Edebiri and her go-to stylist Danielle Goldberg worked with Chanel to conjure up a striking gown that embodied true, Old Hollywood glamour—and not in a stuffy or tired way, but rather, articulating the energy of the most promising and in-demand new stars.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sara Schilling, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
The late Tom Wolfe, rubbing his hands with glee and spilling lemonade on his white suit, would be delighted that tradition has now taken its revenge on stuffy Bauhaus Europeanism, and maybe rightly so.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Armani, who had already introduced unstructured jackets for men and women, was part of the generation of designers who ushered in a less formal fashion era, one that would allow men and women to look refined without looking stuffy.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
For the more formal premiere this evening, Edebiri and her go-to stylist Danielle Goldberg worked with Chanel to conjure up a striking gown that embodied true, Old Hollywood glamour—and not in a stuffy or tired way, but rather, articulating the energy of the most promising and in-demand new stars.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stuffy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stuffy
adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
2
a
: lacking fresh air
a stuffy room
b
: stuffed or choked up
had a stuffy feeling in my head
4
Medical Definition
stuffy
adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
: affected with congestion
a stuffy nose
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share