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

In true JetBlue fashion—this is, after all, the airline that built its name on being the un-stuffy one—there's no curtain cutting the BlueFirst cabin off from the rest of the plane. — Lauren Harano, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026

The quilt set makes the center of my room look polished, but not stuffy. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026

Made from 60 percent cotton, this knit feels like a cozy dream against your skin while staying breathable and non-stuffy. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2026

Mild signs and symptoms of bird flu in people include eye redness and irritation, mild fever, cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the CDC. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 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