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
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
1
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
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
Susan Page, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Without proper care, however, linen can wrinkle easily, feel stiff, and become prone to pilling, says Sammy Wang, a laundry scientist at P&G Fabric Care.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 17 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
Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
Behind the gross-out jokes and knife-sharp takes, there was a champion of the working stiff, a keen observer of history, a self-conscious artist with a deep love for writing and filmmaking.
—Gabe Hiatt, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
Her Majesty didn’t push her away but also didn’t return the gesture, a stiff-upper-lip smile on her face.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Without proper care, however, linen can wrinkle easily, feel stiff, and become prone to pilling, says Sammy Wang, a laundry scientist at P&G Fabric Care.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
Best Sweatpant Jeans Gap New Ease Jeans Say goodbye to stiff denim waistbands thanks to the Gap New Ease Jeans.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 17 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
Marty Supreme is stuffed with street kids, working stiffs, midcentury aristocrats, and world-class athletes, all clad in crisp, period-accurate garb.
—Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
Behind the gross-out jokes and knife-sharp takes, there was a champion of the working stiff, a keen observer of history, a self-conscious artist with a deep love for writing and filmmaking.
—Gabe Hiatt, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
Iris’ dreams of becoming an artist are impeded by her oppressive boss and rigid social structure of the 1850s.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
News articles and photos of the casual picnic enamored Americans, transforming their view of the royals as rigid and aristocratic to more down-to-earth.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lightly coated with oil and tossed occasionally in a searing hot skillet or wok, even tough beans turn silky, and ready to coat in a finishing blast of chiles.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Comfortable travel can be achieved with stretchy, breathable pants, but securing a pair that hits those marks while looking stylish can be tough.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The authors argued that the typical American diet contained excessive calories and fat and lacked sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This development enables high-performance batteries to function without the bulky pressurization hardware that often adds excessive weight and volume to electric vehicle battery packs.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Without him, that identity is harder to maintain.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
The layout resembled a samurai sword, where the hardest material is concentrated mainly along the cutting edge.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Magic are now 1-7 in playoff games when Banchero scores 30 or more, a statistic that raises uncomfortable questions about everything around him.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Put America’s sleep numbers next to its peer nations and the picture gets more uncomfortable.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Combining all of this in one material has been difficult because thermal control and signal control rely on very different properties.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
-
Despite the removal of material, the architecture can result in a busy design and potentially make reading the time difficult.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
This ritual, known as 'Sukye-sik,' is a formal ceremony where followers vow to live according to Buddhist teachings.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
-
For years, conservative politicians and commentators have portrayed it as a coordinated extremist threat, though law enforcement assessments have generally described it as decentralized and lacking formal leadership.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
That's when prosecutor Greg Greer says law enforcement tracked his phone to Humboldt County, in northern California, where Rickman turned up drunk at a relative's house.—
Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
One woman, apparently drunk, ran into the sea and promptly collapsed.—
Robin Romm,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
