stiff 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstif How to pronounce stiff (audio)
Definition of stiffnext
1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending use a stiff piece of paper for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
difficult to endure stiff winds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stiff

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company claiming to sell designer handbags

Synonyms & Similar Words

stiff

3 of 3

noun

1
as in corpse
a dead body to the mortician, a stiff was a stiff and they were all pretty much alike

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in person
a member of the human race one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stiff distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words inflexible and rigid are common synonyms of stiff. While all three words mean "difficult to bend," stiff may apply to any degree of this condition.

stretching keeps your muscles from becoming stiff

In what contexts can inflexible take the place of stiff?

The meanings of inflexible and stiff largely overlap; however, inflexible stresses lack of suppleness or pliability.

ski boots with inflexible soles

When would rigid be a good substitute for stiff?

In some situations, the words rigid and stiff are roughly equivalent. However, rigid applies to something so stiff that it cannot be bent without breaking.

a rigid surfboard

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 stiff
Adjective
Those direct runs into the box were largely missing from a Spain performance that was dominant in possession but often stiff and predictable in attack. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 11 July 2026 The proposal has faced stiff pushback from environmental groups and astronomers who are concerned that the satellites will unleash intrusive light pollution. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
Verb
Say goodbye to stiff towels with these tips for how to make towels soft again. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026 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
Noun
The bar remains a point of pride, originally a place where patrons made their own drinks and now a place where bartenders mix the stiff, old‑school cocktails. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026 Trixies is a song cycle centering on a mythical bar and its working class stiffs and gangsters that’s one-part Cheers, the other The Untouchables. — Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
  1. rigid
  2. tough
  3. excessive
  4. hard
  5. uncomfortable
  6. difficult
  7. formal
  8. drunk
Adjective
  • But why not just use standard, rigid-bodied, propellor-lift VTOL drones?
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
  • Using rigid materials, like metals, makes for a stable biomonitor, but it is easily dislodged when the wearer moves too much, such as during exercise.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
Definition of rigid
Adjective
  • The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Tammy Abraham left soon after Tuchel arrived while most of the forwards — with the exceptions of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz — grew tired of the manager’s excessive candour.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • If the prospect of lines, crowds, and excessive noise is deterring you from a vacation this summer, then the area around Shippea Hill is the ultimate antidote.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • Not long afterward, he was elected president on a platform deeply hostile to the West and its liberal ideology, and especially to the United States — threatening a hard fight in the event of war.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • That’s hard to imagine of a president who uses the office to promote and prosper from his own brand name.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • No one really wants to keep wearing their stiff, uncomfortable boots after arriving back at camp following a long, challenging day on the trail.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
  • There are staffers uncomfortable with the politics of the deal, worried that political interference could alter CNN’s coverage in a meaningful way.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Although the achievement is still awaiting formal certification, the milestone highlights the rapid evolution of high-performance drones for military applications.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • Braverman was writing in response to another parliamentarian who noted that Jamaica planned to lodge a formal petition for reparations later this year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • There were just a bunch of drunk guys at the mansion and a couple Playboy bunnies that were contractually hired to walk around and wave.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of drunk

Phrases Containing stiff

Browse Nearby Words

sties
stiff
stiff-arm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on stiff

Nglish: Translation of stiff for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of obdurate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All