as in conservative
a person with old-fashioned ideas
the committee is dominated by old stick-in-the-muds who have little interest in bringing new ideas to the table
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Recent Examples of stick-in-the-mud
Bostwick starred as the naive stick-in-the-mud and fiancé of Janice, Brad.
—
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
In the Herbert Ross film, Bacon played big-city teen Ren McCormack, who moves to the small town of Bomont, where its stick-in-the-mud local minster, the Rev. Shaw Moore (John Lithgow), has instituted a ban on dancing.
—EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
David Corenswet plays, quite literally, a stick-in-the-mud character.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
In the Herbert Ross film, Bacon played big-city teen Ren McCormack, who moves to the small town of Bomont, where its stick-in-the-mud local minster, the Rev. Shaw Moore (John Lithgow), has instituted a ban on dancing.
—EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
David Corenswet plays, quite literally, a stick-in-the-mud character.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick-in-the-mud
Noun
-
The House failed to pass a measure that would propose amending the Constitution to require the federal government to have a balanced budget, a measure offered by conservatives to address the ever-increasing national debt.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Some conservatives who advocate for immigration restriction have argued that the left should learn from his immigration positions.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alexander, a 31-year-old TCU product, is a seven-year big league veteran who signed with his hometown team this winter.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
After a catastrophic debris strike destroys their shuttle during a spacewalk, Sandra Bullock’s astronaut is left untethered, spinning silently against the vastness of space, while George Clooney’s veteran astronaut tries to guide her from a distance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now the 10% is for stubborn old fogies who refuse to change their ways and try something new.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Old fogey-ish, ungrateful and stupid.—
Katie Hafner,
Scientific American,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Guests can bring fossils for identification.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Guests can do dinosaur-fossil digs, go horseback riding, spend a day on nearby Lake Powell, hike the slot canyons, learn candle and pottery making, and watch a Navajo hoop dance performed by a world-championship contender.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stick-in-the-mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick-in-the-mud. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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