1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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Relevance
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2
as in tough
difficult to endure
stiff winds
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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?
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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
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5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit
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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
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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
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1
2
as in person
a member of the human race
one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history
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1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The footbed offers noticeable arch and heel support, while the cushioning is firm enough to stay stable without feeling stiff.
—Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 29 May 2025
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
But the administration's efforts to abolish federal agencies authorized by Congress are likely to meet the same fate as their attempts to stiff USAID contractors.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
The Tesla brand in China also faces stiff competition, George added.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The footbed offers noticeable arch and heel support, while the cushioning is firm enough to stay stable without feeling stiff.
—Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 29 May 2025
Noun
Focusing mostly on the commercial fishing boat Andrea Gail and its doomed crew of working-class stiffs (including pre-megastardom George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, not to mention John Hawkes and John C. Reilly), the film is a clinic in stomach-gnawing tension.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Felt is warm, easily dyed and stiff enough to hold a cone shape.
—Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
But the administration's efforts to abolish federal agencies authorized by Congress are likely to meet the same fate as their attempts to stiff USAID contractors.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
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Art and humor force us to break out of those rigid coordinates through laughter, critical thinking and refusing to conform, to consider the world in different ways.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
9 June 2025
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But Song refuses to stack the deck, including a comparable number of women whose rigid demands significantly narrow the market.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
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When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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As a Millennial what’s your take on Gen Z’s excessive use of exclamation points?—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
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Without legislative action this year to fix excessive insurance mandates, the entire peer-to-peer car sharing industry could disappear overnight.—
Al Sharpton,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: Most marketing ROI is based on incomplete data and backward-looking models that oversimplify human behavior.—
Gully Flowers,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Bloating Bloating is a common and often uncomfortable feeling of stomach fullness or tightness.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
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Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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Square limestone columns with a wavy, striated design stand between the formal living and dining areas.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
1 June 2025
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More impressive millwork defines the passageways to the formal dining and living rooms.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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The injured man told them his wife had fired around 10 shots at him while drunk, Mansfield police said in a news release Friday.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2025
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There was a stronger dislike of issues such as getting drunk on a flight or letting children play in the aisle, with 82 and 86 percent disapproval ratings respectively.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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