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
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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
Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The simulation added challenges for the avatars — like slippery floors, inclines or stiff joints – and homed in on the best way for Atlas to perform the jumping jacks.
—Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Symptoms progress to stiff neck and seizures, as well as cognitive symptoms, like confusion and hallucinations.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
After one of his clients stiffs him, Veneno runs into Muñeco (Osvaldo Sanchez), a trucker in his 40s who spends long weeks away from his estranged family, drinking and doing drugs to stay awake on the job.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
Penalties are even stiffer under the state's extreme DUI laws.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The simulation added challenges for the avatars — like slippery floors, inclines or stiff joints – and homed in on the best way for Atlas to perform the jumping jacks.
—Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
After one of his clients stiffs him, Veneno runs into Muñeco (Osvaldo Sanchez), a trucker in his 40s who spends long weeks away from his estranged family, drinking and doing drugs to stay awake on the job.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Symptoms progress to stiff neck and seizures, as well as cognitive symptoms, like confusion and hallucinations.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 15 Aug. 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 Sep. 2025
After one of his clients stiffs him, Veneno runs into Muñeco (Osvaldo Sanchez), a trucker in his 40s who spends long weeks away from his estranged family, drinking and doing drugs to stay awake on the job.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
No one is being ordered to give up bread, meat or the occasional indulgence, just as no one should treat a diagram as a rigid prescription.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Their analyses relied on rigid formulas that ignore the dynamics of companies driven by invention, rapid scaling, and exponential growth.—
Shane Goodwin,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After a rocky two years, the luxury industry is expected to carry its third-quarter recovery into Q4, despite some tough comparables.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2026
-
That hope ended on July 3, 2025 when Michael, the charismatic tough guy actor known for his memorable roles in Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, died of cardiac arrest at 67 years old after a long struggle with alcoholism.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This can include excessive trim details, contrasting paint colors on every wall, or ceiling features that are too deep or too busy for the size of the room.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The President’s threat landed hours after a judge decided not to issue a temporary restraining order after Minnesota and the Twin Cities filed a lawsuit against federal officials, citing excessive force being used by agents.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Shouldn’t even be that hard to sharpen the blasted thing, let alone twist it.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Jones raved about his consistency, intelligence, hard work and athleticism.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Although the meeting went smoothly and led to concrete commitments, the bonhomie was strained by uncomfortable questions at a news conference about the issue hanging over the day’s diplomacy.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than telegraphing trouble in paradise, the move could simply be a styling choice—or a response to high temperatures, which cause one’s hands to swell and can make wearing a ring uncomfortable.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Business leaders, of course, have their own interests and shareholders to serve, but Democrats can still protect the public interest while giving CEOs a seat at the table to reach pragmatic answers to difficult questions like these.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The entertainment rooms can serve as places to enjoy cocktails and billiards (both villas feature Steinway & Sons grand pianos), the dining rooms feel cinematic without being too formal, and the bedroom suites favor comfort rather than flashiness.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
City leaders say the rules are needed because Rocklin currently has no formal regulations in place to monitor or enforce mobile vending activity.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Reading Cassandra’s voice is like reading The Bell Jar’s Esther if Esther were drunk on brandy half the time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
As thousands of medical caregivers walked off the job Monday in what became the largest nurses’ strike in New York City history, officials at a major hospital accused the nurses’ union of making unreasonable demands — including protections for nurses who come to work drunk or high.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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