stuffier; stuffiest
1
2
: lacking in vitality or interest : stodgy, dull
3
a
: oppressive to the breathing : close
a stuffy room
b
: stuffed up
a stuffy nose
4
a
: narrowly inflexible in standards of conduct : self-righteous
b
: stiffly conventional : priggish
stuffy formalities
stuffily adverb
stuffiness noun

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
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.
More wearable than the Met Gala but less stuffy than the Oscars, the Vogue World dress code leaves room for some playful, riskier looks. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025 While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 Butler goes off Sitting in a stuffy, crowded pregame press conference, Kerr waxed poetic about Butler’s ability to draw fouls. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 Plus, used camping gear or exercise equipment can develop a stench when sitting in a stuffy closet for too long. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stuffy

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stuffy was in 1798

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stuffy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stuffy

adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
1
2
a
: lacking fresh air
a stuffy room
b
: stuffed or choked up
had a stuffy feeling in my head
3
: lacking in pep or interest : dull, stodgy
4
stuffily adverb
stuffiness noun

Medical Definition

stuffy

adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
: affected with congestion
a stuffy nose
stuffiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stuffy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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