How to Use stiff in a Sentence

stiff

1 of 4 adjective

• Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.
• When I got out of bed this morning my back was stiff as a board.
• The lace was so stiff and itchy.
  — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
• Use a stiff brush for tough spots.
  — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Feb. 2026
• Rothrock said the fines are stiff, too.
  — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 26 June 2026
• Use a stiff brush to scrub away the stains.
  — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
• The flags stood straight out in the stiff wind.
  — Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
• Then mix on high until stiff peaks form.
  — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
• The cake batter is rather stiff and sticky.
  — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
• Gummer plays her as dour, stiff and rigid.
  — Lisa Depaulo, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
• Use them for stiff cocktails or neat pours.
  — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
• My feet, cramped and stiff, began to pulse.
  — Junnelle Hogen, Outside, 19 Oct. 2025
• Plants form a dense tuft of stiff grass-like foliage.
  — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
• Beat until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).
  — Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025
• Add a splash of extra milk if the dough feels too stiff.
  — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
• If your clothes look dull and feel stiff, stripping might help.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
• These shoes also have a very stiff sole that can be off-putting.
  — Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
• Then the black wolf walked, stiff-legged, from behind the bear.
  — Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
• Cat Cow Cat cows are great for a stiff back.
  — Kristen Fischer, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
• His fingers were stiff, his hands were stiff, his arms were stiff.
  — Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
• But critics warned the shade sails might blow away in a stiff wind.
  — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
• That film rubs off on your clothes and leaves them smelling stale and feeling stiff.
  — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
• The Scots have a much stiffer test in their second match.
  — Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
• Asuka caught her with a stiff forearm to the face.
  — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
• But stiffer laws are not always the answer.
  — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
• Even after adding the eggs, the batter will be stiff.
  — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
• Gently scrub the rust away with a sponge or stiff nylon brush.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025
• That wording felt stiff and a little off.
  — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
• Some have agile fingers, and some have stiff hands.
  — Jill Duffy, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
• Gout is a form of arthritis that causes swollen and stiff joints.
  — Anne Harding, Health, 25 Aug. 2023

stiff

2 of 4 adverb

• But so far Brill has gotten stiff-armed by social media platforms.
  — Jeffrey M. O'Brien, Fortune, 2 June 2022
• Odds lean toward the world stiff-arming the virus or finding a vaccine long before a single ticket is sold.
  — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2020
• American consumers and workers aren’t the only ones being stiff-armed.
  — William N. Walker and Stanton D. Anderson, WSJ, 4 Jan. 2022
• The working stiff inside us doesn’t blame Midnight Mel for taking the money and running.
  — Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2020
• Ember Moon may or may not have potatoed Indi Hartwell with a stiff-looking forearm.
  — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 5 May 2021
• Once steadied, Cook bounced outside and then stiff-armed a cornerback out of his way at the 3-yard line to create a path to the end zone.
  — Star Tribune, 4 Oct. 2020
• Dogs go through stages in their life, just as people do, as is obvious to anyone who has watched their stiff-legged companion rouse themselves to go for one more walk.
  — James Gorman, Star Tribune, 14 Nov. 2020
• Though aging and wheelchair-bound, the President was every bit as gritty and stiff-spined as Hamilton had been.
  — Robert Hockett, Forbes, 1 May 2022
• Yet even facing the opposite direction, Henry’s left arm outstretched and stiff-armed away the tackler.
  — Michael McCleary, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Nov. 2020
• Thomas drew a loud response from the crowd after breaking loose for a 28-yard carry and stiff-arming an opponent late in the third quarter.
  — J.c. Carnahan, orlandosentinel.com, 20 Aug. 2021
• The Tide lost contain on the outside for the follow-up play as Sanders ran 26 yards and stiff-armed a referee at the end of it.
  — Nick Alvarez | [email protected], al, 1 Oct. 2022
• That’s piling up postseason wins, stiff-arming adversity and grinding through against the best mound minders in baseball.
  — San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2021
• Then on the second offensive possession for Texas, Robinson deked and stiff-armed his way to another big gain.
  — Marcus Krum, Dallas News, 7 Nov. 2020
• Doyle countered that Lewis had donned stiff-looking gloves and a helmet before his group approached the bar patio merely for protection from the sun.
  — oregonlive, 20 July 2022
• Chubb dominates by cutting back, stiff-arming would-be tacklers and dusting second-level defenders.
  — Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 3 Aug. 2021
• At the 13-yard line, Hill juked a third defender, cut sharply to his left to beat a defensive back to the edge and stiff-armed his way into the end zone to score a go-ahead touchdown.
  — Amie Just | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 26 Sep. 2020
• Smith-Njigba jumped into blocking mode but was stiff-armed by Stingley as the two stumbled onto the Texans’ sideline.
  — Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
• The Pistons were also without Reggie Jackson (stiff back) on Saturday.
  — Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press, 27 Oct. 2019
• Fifty years ago, Germans goose-stepped in exacting regimentation, stiff-armed salutes sanctifying der Fuhrer.
  — Bob Larsen, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2022
• Late in the third quarter, Sanders caught a pass near the sideline, juked one defender and stiff-armed another to complete a 32-yard scoring pass from Henigan.
  — Greg Riddle, Dallas News, 26 Sep. 2020
• And the effort required to lope stiff-legged across the powdery surface guzzled the air and cooling water in his backpack, limiting his time outside the relative safety of the lunar module.
  — Outside Online, 23 June 2021
• Since Harbaugh began stiff-arming the Michigan beat writers in the nascent stages of the offseason, the storylines attached to his program have changed dramatically.
  — Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press, 8 July 2020
• Cooke tried to shepherd the Tarleton State alum towards the sideline about four yards from paydirt, but Speed stuck out a strong right arm, protected the ball like a running back and stiff-armed Cooke out of the way.
  — Andy Yamashita, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2021
• Waited while praying for justice, tempering anxiety, and stiff-arming fear that the seven women and five men might be swayed by defense arguments that Floyd died from something other than Chauvin’s knee.
  — Roy S. Johnson | [email protected], al, 20 Apr. 2021
• The testimony as well as the many videos and social media posts introduced were awash in the iconography of hate, with Nazi symbols and stiff-armed salutes, with admiration for Hitler and claims that nonwhite races were inferior.
  — New York Times, 23 Nov. 2021
• Their valuable middle infielders — shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (sore left knee) and second baseman Neil Walker (stiff back) — are dealing with the reappearance of injuries.
  — James Wagner, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2016
• On a second-and-6, Littleton sped down the left sideline, stiff-arming a defender to the ground, then pushed off another defender before being taken down at Michigan State’s 2-yard line.
  — Ryan McFadden, Baltimore Sun, 2 Oct. 2022
• On a 68-yard run early in the fourth quarter against Michigan State, Littleton sped down the left sideline, stiff-armed a defender to the ground, then pushed off another before being taken down at the Spartans’ 2-yard line.
  — Ryan McFadden, Baltimore Sun, 6 Oct. 2022
• In the 2021 film, Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) stars as Hutch Mansell, a by-the-numbers working stiff who harbors a secret past as an off-the-books government assassin.
  — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025

stiff

3 of 4 noun

• That poor stiff never gets a break.
• They have the kind of luxuries the average working stiff can't afford.
• And would his stiff-armed putting stroke work on lightning greens?
  — Star Tribune, 21 Sep. 2020
• Maybe she isn't wired like the rest of us grinders and working stiffs.
  — Author: Wayne and Wanda, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Feb. 2020
• Man, put your arm out and stiff-arm that little guy off of you, man.
  — Ben Flanagan | [email protected], al, 20 Sep. 2021
• The animal had a stiff and firm tail, that was thick at the base.
  — Fox News, 22 Oct. 2019
• Next, use a nylon stiff-bristle scrub brush to scrub off the stains.
  — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2021
• One tester found the fabric stiff, and the comforter comes only in white.
  — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022
• First up is a magnesium mid-frame, which should make the phone extra stiff.
  — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2017
• Now the working stiffs are white-collar people.
  — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
• The stiff but still flexible brush picks up every last bit of debris off the floor.
  — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 9 May 2022
• Harris seemed reluctant to talk about his stiff-arm when asked about it on Friday.
  — Mark Inabinett | [email protected], al, 10 Dec. 2022
• Dude, next time, take your complaint to the big cheese, not the poor working stiff who's outside waiting for a ride.
  — Barbara Hijek, Sun-Sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2017
• Things like a viral spin move and stiff-arm against West Virginia hinted at things to come.
  — Dallas News, 21 Nov. 2022
• Rush also missed a handful of practices with a stiff back, which slowed his development in camp.
  — Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2021
• Regardless of the test results, Yelich had trouble swinging due to his stiff back.
  — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 13 May 2022
• Correa has been nursing a stiff back since going on the disabled list June 26.
  — Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 13 July 2018
• Recently, though, a new crop of companies has emerged with the aim of helping working stiffs take their jobs on the road.
  — Elizabeth G. Dunn, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2018
• By the end of spring training, despite a stiff back, Doc showed everyone his stuff was more than major league ready.
  — Davey Johnson, SI.com, 1 June 2018
• After that score, Moore stood shell-shocked in front of her goal before slowly turning and trudging stiff-legged up the field.
  — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2022
• With dull brown eyes and a helmet of white hair, the 63-year-old Brooks has a stiff, dorky countenance and an abrupt style.
  — Molly Ball, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2017
• But their higher prices have put the historically cheap fare out of the reach of the regular working stiff.
  — Jim Shahin, sacbee.com, 23 May 2017
• At one bruising point during the drive, Allen finished an eight-yard run with a brutal stiff-arm of Nick Scott.
  — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022
• For the Bulls, Lauri Markkanen is a gameday decision with a stiff back.
  — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 17 Dec. 2017
• Their Laque Dentelle hair spray is the perfect buildable hair spray that delivers a strong hold without the stiff, crunchy, flaky residue.
  — Kelsi Zimmerman, Allure, 31 Aug. 2017
• Mitchell led the stiff-arm charge as Arkansas missed 12 straight shots and Teague hit a pair of 3-pointers to put it out of reach.
  — Kristen Davis, cleveland, 30 Mar. 2021
• The traditional stiff-arm salute was dropped in the 1940s in favor of the hand over the heart to avoid analogies to the Nazi salute.
  — New York Times, 2 Apr. 2022
• All of a sudden, there was one defender between Hicks and the end zone, so Hicks stuck out his right arm and stiff-armed that defender into the turf.
  — Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2020
• His stiff-arm on defensive back Jaire Alexander near the Packers 30 bought him at least 20 more yards.
  — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 4 Dec. 2020
• The right-wing Conservatives were the party of the middle class and the upper crust, while left-wing Labour was the party of the working stiffs.
  — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 June 2017

stiff

4 of 4 verb

• There was frost on the inside of the windows, clothes stiff on the floor.
  — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
• Whip the cream to stiff peaks using a stand mixer or hand mixer.
  — Katy Severson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Mar. 2021
• Square to glimpse the paintings on the walls, their ancestors stiff in oils.
  — Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2022
• The state is accused of stiffing the school district and is being sued.
  — Stu Bykofsky, Philly.com, 12 Mar. 2018
• Beat 1/2 cup cream to stiff peaks, and fold into pumpkin mixture.
  — Cheryl Slocum, Country Living, 24 Aug. 2021
• That helped open a crease for Allen, who was able to stiff-arm a defender and bounce to the outside.
  — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2021
• That may progress to stiff neck, seizures, hallucinations and coma.
  — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2022
• Once the custard is chilled, whip 1 cup of heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold into the pastry cream to make a smooth and creamy filling.
  — Kristen Massad, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2021
• Normally, the story should have ended there, with a poor man being stiffed by a more powerful one.
  — Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 1 July 2018
• In another medium bowl, beat heavy cream to stiff peaks, then fold into mascarpone mixture.
  — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2022
• Morris recalls, saying she was constantly stiffed by club owners who never paid her.
  — Jason Ikeler, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 July 2019
• Otherwise, contractors could put a lien on the home – which would affect the new owner, not the flipper who stiffed them.
  — Jen A. Miller, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2017
• The only lawmaker who was stiffed didn’t vote to reelect Madigan as speaker.
  — Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, 4 Oct. 2019
• Boston’s Kevin McHale stiff armed him in the neck area, leaving Rambis flat on his back.
  — New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021
• That was necessary when shoes had leather or vinyl elements that might stretch and stiff sole materials that needed to mold to your foot.
  — Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 8 July 2022
• Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting and progresses to stiff neck, seizures and coma that can lead to death.
  — Gregory Yeestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2022
• Falcons running back Terron Ward tries to stiff-arm free safety Earl Thomas.
  — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2017
• Trump, however, had a nasty tendency to stiff his business partners and associates.
  — New York Times, 4 Feb. 2020
• Once they’re exhausted, the nation will need to borrow more money or stiff its lenders — and risk having its credit downgraded.
  — Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2023
• Some were completely stiffed, with no real recourse other than pursuing a lawsuit that likely would cost more than the amount they weren’t paid.
  — Diane Stafford, kansascity.com, 18 May 2017
• Like a drop in the pace of mechanic liens, the legal paperwork that contractors used when stiffed by a property owner for work performed.
  — Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 24 Apr. 2017
• But their concerns were later verified when tickets went on sale and first-in-line-buyers called me to complain how they’d been stiffed, sold seats 20 rows back.
  — Jonathan Takiff, Philly.com, 3 May 2018
• The student looking to go into nursing is less likely to stiff the taxpayer than the one looking to be a sociologist.
  — WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022
• One of the creditors was a Chicago car dealership that claimed it was stiffed by a defunct direct-mail business that Bates ran.
  — Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Feb. 2018
• And of course, that’s why two generations of peasants had given sticky rice and protection to people like Cung and stiffed and lied to people like us.
  — Jeff Stein, Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2017
• Symptoms progress to stiff neck and seizures, as well as cognitive symptoms, like confusion and hallucinations.
  — Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
• When your sugar mixture reaches 230°F, begin beating your egg whites to firm peak stage; egg whites will hold their shape but not quite to stiff peak stage.
  — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
• If they get stiffed, maybe the apartment can be one of the housing options for their colleagues, Torres-Ness said, if the party house next door turns down the volume.
  — Steve Lopezcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2020
• In May 2015, the mall evicted Boomtown for failing to pay rent and stiffing contractors who worked on the project.
  — Robert Anglen, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2017
• Frank previously claimed Avenatti had stiffed him out of millions of dollars in profits and clients’ fees at Avenatti’s law firm.
  — Lewis Kamb, The Seattle Times, 18 May 2018