as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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-arm
In that sense, stiff-arming Disney is not likely to result in long-term satisfied customers.
—
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Lindsey needed to stiff-arm a tackler and every single inch to reach the pylon, as well as a replay review to uphold it, in order to score the game-winning touchdown in a 23-20 overtime win at Huntington Bank Stadium.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 1 Nov. 2025
But Sage essentially struck a Heisman Trophy pose, stiff-arming Shannon from any sort of reconciliation.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Dart finished that run by winding up a big stiff-arm for Chargers cornerback Cam Hart.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Kelce hauled in a 23-yard reception while stiff-arming Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Sire Gaines #26 of the Boise State Broncos stiff-arms Kajuan Banks #13 of the South Florida Bulls in the first half of a game at Raymond James Stadium on August 28, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Longtime Chargers observers know the player with the best stiff-arm in team history belonged to the incomparable LaDainian Tomlinson.
—Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Hurts tossed two touchdown passes in his first game since a late-season concussion, Goedert threw those three stiff-arms on a rugged TD catch and the Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a 22-10 wild-card playoff win Sunday night.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Lindsey needed to stiff-arm a tackler and every single inch to reach the pylon, as well as a replay review to uphold it, in order to score the game-winning touchdown in a 23-20 overtime win at Huntington Bank Stadium.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 1 Nov. 2025
But Sage essentially struck a Heisman Trophy pose, stiff-arming Shannon from any sort of reconciliation.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Dart finished that run by winding up a big stiff-arm for Chargers cornerback Cam Hart.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Kelce hauled in a 23-yard reception while stiff-arming Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Sire Gaines #26 of the Boise State Broncos stiff-arms Kajuan Banks #13 of the South Florida Bulls in the first half of a game at Raymond James Stadium on August 28, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Longtime Chargers observers know the player with the best stiff-arm in team history belonged to the incomparable LaDainian Tomlinson.
—Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Hurts tossed two touchdown passes in his first game since a late-season concussion, Goedert threw those three stiff-arms on a rugged TD catch and the Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a 22-10 wild-card playoff win Sunday night.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-arm
Verb
-
Difficult Amazon logistics is no excuse Another challenge to vaccinating indigenous groups is the complicated logistics of getting shots to their territories, which are often isolated and hard to reach.—
Adriana Brasileiro,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And that’s what people want at the end of the day, is someone to resonate with and not feel so alone and isolated in this world.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Testers noted how plush or stiff the mattress felt after consistent sleep on the mattresses, from a boxed memory foam to a hybrid bed.—
Kristi Kellogg,
Architectural Digest,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Next, in another bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks.—
Kathryn Gregory,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bonta rejected the allegations as unsubstantiated and said the states were targeted solely because of their political leadership.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
For at least the third time in just over a year, Humphrey has rejected most serious charges against rule-breaking cops.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For reasons that are quite possibly too unbearable to contemplate, a large group of American voters was not repulsed by such slander—they were actually aroused by it—and our politics have not been the same.—
Jeffrey Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Nicole is the kind of wife who moves out of her father’s home into her husband’s home, and who has been taught to be repulsed by the mushroom spores covering her body, just like all the women in their community.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second-longest TD run of his career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
This same staff cut him to make room for a waiver-wire claim before the start of the 2024 season.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some have coatings that are meant to repel water or fingerprints.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Madrid’s back line were forced to repel multiple crosses, while Courtois saved from Baena (twice) and Sorloth.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Follow along to see who got nominated, who was snubbed and who surprised us all.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Ranger Suárez was an All-Star in 2024 and was snubbed from the All-Star Game last season.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But try to understand why your mom's feeling slighted.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Paramount feels slighted and discriminated against in the sale process.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-arm. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share