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.
When the air turns crisp in fall and winter, the dryness indoors can sneak up on you — and so can flaky skin, a scratchy throat, and stuffy sinuses (not to mention allergens). Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025 In hopes of bolstering George’s chances and briefly escaping the stuffy confines of married life, Hedda decides to throw a shindig announcing the couple’s return from their honeymoon. Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025 It’s made from 100 percent polyester which has been known to stay smooth (even when it’s stuffed into a packing cube), and the loose-fitting sleeves and ruffles down the front keep it fun and stylish without looking stuffy. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025 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 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stuffy. Accessed 8 Nov. 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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