stuffy

adjective

ˈstə-fē 

stuffier; stuffiest

1

: ill-natured, ill-humored

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

ˈstə-fə-lē 

adverb

stuffiness

ˈstə-fē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of stuffy

• close
• stifling
• suffocating
• breathless

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

Its sophisticated but never stuffy—for proof, take a peek at artist Becca Barnet’s playful diorama of taxidermy foxes and butterflies in the concierge’s nook. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Flu symptoms may include fever, chills, a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Seconds ticked by as the two of them stood there, silence unspooling in the stuffy entryway of the flat. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

In the decades since, the piece has evolved to be made with leather cords instead—an alternative to the traditional stuffy tie—and worn by cowboys while riding. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stuffy

• buffy
• fluffy
• puffy
• scruffy

Kids Definition

stuffy

adjective

ˈstəf-ē 

stuffier; stuffiest

1

: sullen sense 1, ill-humored

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

: self-righteous

stuffily

ˈstəf-ə-lē 

adverb

stuffiness

ˈstəf-ē-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

stuffy

adjective

ˈstəf-ē 

stuffier; stuffiest

: affected with congestion

a stuffy nose

stuffiness

ˈstəf-ē-nəs 

noun