STICK-IN-THE-MUD Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

stick-in-the-mud

noun

ˈstik-ən-t͟hə-ˌməd

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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Example Sentences

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.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick-in-the-mud

Noun

Democrats have run several bills over the past few years to protect trans youth, in particular, a move that conservatives have decried as government interference with families.

— Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
But the six conservatives, a majority of them seemed not persuaded by that argument.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026

Definition of conservative

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“Stick-in-the-mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick-in-the-mud. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.

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