Synonyms of stiff

stiff 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstif 

1

as in rigid

incapable of or highly resistant to bending

use a stiff piece of paper for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rigid
• stiffened
• solid
• brittle
• strong
• inflexible
• unyielding
• dense
• hard
• crisp
• compact
• sound
• substantial
• inelastic
• firm
• arthritic
• rheumatic
• nonelastic
• nonmalleable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• floppy
• pliable
• pliant
• elastic
• supple
• resilient
• yielding
• workable
• springy
• plastic
• stretchy
• malleable
• soft
• flaccid
• flabby
• limp
• droopy
• mushy
• semiflexible
• squishy
• squashy
• limber
• willowy
• lithe
• lank
• lissome
• lithesome
• semisoft

2

as in tough

difficult to endure

stiff winds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tough
• harsh
• oppressive
• hard
• searing
• brutal
• rough
• severe
• heavy
• trying
• grim
• cruel
• rugged
• burdensome
• painful
• bitter
• onerous
• inhuman
• bleak
• murderous
• excruciating
• uncomfortable
• grievous
• strict
• unbearable
• hardhanded
• unpleasant
• rigorous
• inhospitable
• bad
• stringent
• austere
• spartan
• forbidding
• crushing
• overwhelming
• discomforting
• biting
• comfortless
• inclement
• intemperate
• insufferable
• agonizing
• hostile
• intolerable
• wild
• tortuous
• grinding
• unfriendly
• wretched
• wearing
• disagreeable
• unendurable
• insupportable
• heartbreaking
• harrowing
• heartrending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• easy
• light
• comfortable
• luxurious
• friendly
• pleasant
• cozy
• agreeable
• genial
• hospitable
• peaceful
• mild
• moderate
• relaxing
• snug
• gentle
• tolerable
• restful
• painless
• calm
• bearable
• temperate
• balmy
• reposeful
• endurable
• clement

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

• excessive
• steep
• extreme
• insane
• extravagant
• lavish
• infinite
• endless
• undue
• exorbitant
• intolerable
• baroque
• over-the-top
• fancy
• unbearable
• inordinate
• unmerciful
• immoderate
• plethoric
• unconscionable
• overdue
• inappropriate
• towering
• devilish
• overextravagant
• overweening
• overmuch
• improper
• a bit much
• limitless
• boundless
• unjustifiable
• thick
• unwarranted
• immeasurable
• unseemly
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• moderate
• modest
• inadequate
• insufficient
• deficient
• middling
• minimal
• temperate
• minimum

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

• hard
• rigid
• thick
• solid
• heavy
• compressed
• compact
• dense
• unyielding
• stiffened
• firm
• sturdy
• compacted
• hardened
• tempered
• inflexible
• unbending
• indurated
• inelastic
• thickset
• condensed
• close
• substantial
• case-hardened
• ramrod
• adamantine
• impermeable
• rocklike
• impenetrable
• nonporous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• thin
• spongy
• loose
• flabby
• flexible
• elastic
• scattered
• pliable
• malleable
• pliant
• limp
• supple
• floppy
• slack
• squishy
• flaccid
• light
• squashy
• droopy
• porous
• lank
• bendable
• airy
• permeable
• ultrasoft

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

• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• awkward
• clumsy
• wooden
• embarrassed
• stilted
• timid
• ungraceful
• inelegant
• gauche
• rustic
• rough-hewn
• upset
• nervous
• graceless
• meek
• flustered
• angular
• unsettled
• disturbed
• agitated
• ungainly
• gawky
• boorish
• clownish
• lubberly
• uncouth
• discomfited
• distressed
• bothered
• perturbed
• abashed
• modest
• disconcerted
• self-conscious
• jittery
• jumpy
• diffident
• discomforted
• unassertive
• rattled
• discomposed
• nonplussed
• mortified
• disquieted
• unassuming
• insecure
• chagrined
• dismayed
• discountenanced
• unhinged
• unpretentious
• fazed
• self-doubting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• graceful
• suave
• urbane
• composed
• confident
• collected
• cool
• calm
• secure
• poised
• placid
• unperturbed
• undisturbed
• serene
• tranquil
• assured
• self-possessed
• self-confident
• self-assured

6

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• rigorous
• hard
• heavy
• formidable
• demanding
• complicated
• tall
• rugged
• rough
• sweaty
• severe
• strenuous
• effortful
• killer
• painful
• uphill
• arduous
• murderous
• backbreaking
• intricate
• laborious
• grueling
• exacting
• testing
• exhausting
• complex
• herculean
• serious
• toilsome
• tight
• annoying
• stubborn
• problematic
• hellacious
• pick-and-shovel
• hairy
• oppressive
• brutal
• elusive
• bruising
• grim
• insoluble
• thorny
• opaque
• abstract
• tricky
• spiny
• knotty
• involved
• burdensome
• strict
• moiling
• troublesome
• onerous
• stressful
• abstruse
• ticklish
• labored
• stringent
• irksome
• Augean
• trying
• bothersome
• recondite
• vexatious
• cruel
• taxing
• distressing
• inhuman
• grievous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• easy
• simple
• light
• cheap
• clear
• effortless
• mindless
• facile
• undemanding
• elementary
• smooth
• manageable
• uncomplicated
• gentle
• achievable
• doable
• relaxed
• soothing
• painless
• comforting
• friendly
• accessible
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

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

• formal
• nice
• decorous
• correct
• ceremonious
• proper
• solemn
• starchy
• stilted
• civil
• punctilious
• polite
• polished
• stiff-necked
• refined
• gallant
• chivalrous
• stately
• sober
• courtly
• courteous
• genteel
• red-carpet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• informal
• casual
• easygoing
• improper
• unceremonious
• indecorous
• unmannerly
• laid-back
• discourteous
• rude
• impolite

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

• drunk
• drunken
• wet
• fried
• impaired
• wasted
• plastered
• blind
• bombed
• tight
• gassed
• under the influence
• loaded
• crocked
• high
• tipsy
• ripped
• lit
• hammered
• stewed
• boozy
• looped
• under the weather
• inebriated
• intoxicated
• smashed
• stinking
• besotted
• cockeyed
• soused
• sozzled
• pickled
• stoned
• three sheets in the wind
• juiced
• oiled
• inebriate
• blasted
• sloshed
• alcoholic
• potted
• wiped out
• tiddly
• tanked
• blotto
• lit up
• blitzed
• canned
• in the bag
• squiffed
• sottish
• pie-eyed
• in one's cups
• dopey
• rocky
• maudlin
• dissolute
• befuddled
• strung out
• crapulous
• stupefied
• beery
• bleary-eyed
• dissipated
• debauched
• bibulous
• dipsomaniacal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straight
• dry
• sober
• steady
• temperate
• cool
• level
• abstemious
• teetotal
• abstinent
• clearheaded

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

• cut
• isolate
• slight
• reject
• cold-shoulder
• snub
• repulse
• repel
• stiff-arm
• high-hat
• forget
• neglect
• disdain
• rebuff
• overlook
• spurn
• ostracize
• pass over
• scorn
• brush (aside or off)
• disregard
• shrug off
• overpass

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

• squeeze
• sting
• cheat
• stick
• hustle
• pluck
• beat
• screw
• short
• bleed
• skin
• sucker
• fleece
• shake down
• do
• rip off
• ream
• fiddle
• chisel
• mulct
• deceive
• con
• trick
• hose
• rook
• swindle
• victimize
• bilk
• gaff
• shortchange
• nobble
• take to the cleaners
• euchre
• chouse
• take for a ride
• skunk
• defraud
• flimflam
• thimblerig
• diddle
• cozen
• exploit
• betray
• wrench
• fool
• do in
• sell a bill of goods to
• clip
• extort
• gouge
• soak
• milk
• nick
• overcharge
• wring
• bitch
• rope (in)
• gull
• wrest
• dupe
• double-cross
• fast-talk
• bamboozle

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

• corpse
• remains
• carcass
• bones
• relics
• cadaver
• corse
• corpus
• ashes
• deceased
• mummy
• decedent
• carnage
• carrion

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

• person
• guy
• man
• life
• creature
• body
• being
• individual
• duck
• human
• thing
• sort
• egg
• face
• bird
• soul
• fish
• specimen
• baby
• customer
• party
• human being
• character
• devil
• mortal
• personality
• cookie
• head
• scout
• bod
• fellow
• son of man
• personage
• slob
• wight
• brother
• self
• homo
• humanoid
• somebody
• neighbor
• hominid
• celebrity
• fellowman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• animal
• brute
• beast
• critter
• beastie

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

Recent Examples of stiff

Adjective

There’s not a single Class 4A team on the schedule, so Columbine will need to stack wins against stiff 5A opponents to get favorable playoff seeding, which is determined by MaxPreps Rankings. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

In both cases, there is something at once magisterial and leadenly self-regarding about the melancholic rhythms of Cusk’s prose, with its stiff and stately syntax and its utter impatience with the real vagaries of difference. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Verb

This look has the same sophisticated, polished feel of a suit moment without the dedication to stiff layers. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026

Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs stiff arms Alex Highsmith #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. — Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026

Noun

Now the working stiffs are white-collar people. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing stiff

• bindle stiff