1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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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
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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Spoon into prepared baking pan, and spread in an even layer (dough will be stiff and tacky).
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Say goodbye to stiff towels with these tips for how to make towels soft again.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Mickey 17 was a stiff in its opening weekend at the domestic box office, earning, per The Numbers, $19 million from 3,807 theaters.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
While the speed of the game might change against stiffer competition, his ability to see things should translate.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Spoon into prepared baking pan, and spread in an even layer (dough will be stiff and tacky).
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
And for the legions of blue-collar stiffs just like him.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Say goodbye to stiff towels with these tips for how to make towels soft again.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Noun
Margouleff sat along a wall, posture stiff, restraining himself from saying something about Sites’s jean jacket.
—Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Mickey 17 was a stiff in its opening weekend at the domestic box office, earning, per The Numbers, $19 million from 3,807 theaters.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
The paper identifies further causes of the continent’s growth problem as the EU’s relatively high energy prices, rigid employment regulations, and a general lack of corporate dynamism and entrepreneurship.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, a single rigid substrate integrates everything in one strong, precise piece.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The backcourt duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the StudBudz, are shifty, tough shot-making guards who can get hot in a hurry.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
-
And that’s tough on those guys.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
A level 2 of 4 threat for excessive rainfall is in place for parts of eastern New Mexico and western Texas due to rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible in the heaviest storms.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The government's initial response, which blamed opposition factions rather than acknowledging excessive force, further inflamed tensions.—
Sonal Nain,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Consider how closed captioning, originally developed for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, now benefits millions in noisy environments or when audio isn't available.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Just hard to think that’ll happen coming off the Jacksonville blowout.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Candidate quality is an uncomfortable topic for political parties.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
These gems combine the functionality of a bra with the comfort of a cozy piece of clothing, complete with bra shelves or cups to help support the girls without the need for an extra (and sometimes uncomfortable) wires and layers.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Ncell, Nepal’s second-largest telecommunications service provider, noted that shutting down all platforms at once was, in any case, technically difficult and warned that the move would severely impact business.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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Last summer, after years of hip problems and some difficult surgeries to address them, Jill had an operation that went poorly.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The former officials’ attorneys, represented by former Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell, are seeking back pay and a formal declaration that the firings were unlawful.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The proposal has not yet been presented to the FA Board and there has been no formal vote at EFL level, either.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Make people mad, say something racist, interview a drunk girl outside a Chili’s about anal.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Here’s a guy who’s just married, on his honeymoon, drunk off his ass, and being given the steering wheel to a plane with 400 people behind him.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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