as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends
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Recent Examples of stiff-arm
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
Now fully cleared, Norfleet has been working to avoid unnecessary hits — using stiff-arms or quick cuts instead of always lowering his shoulder — and is focusing on improving his route running through film study and experimentation.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 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
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
Now fully cleared, Norfleet has been working to avoid unnecessary hits — using stiff-arms or quick cuts instead of always lowering his shoulder — and is focusing on improving his route running through film study and experimentation.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 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
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Caregiving is too hard and too isolating to do it on your own.—
Kat McGowan,
NPR,
18 Oct. 2025
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On all three plays, at the snap, the opposing offense had a tight end isolated on the formation to the left side with James in man coverage.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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,
5 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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The council had already rejected Allied once before, months earlier, over settlements — including back wages — that the company has had to pay out to current and former employees.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Teachers, students, and parents alike rejected the $850 million effort.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His family, dependent on his income and repulsed at what has become of their son, must then determine what is to be done with poor Gregor.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
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Ron spends a lot of time bouncing around the web, fascinated and repulsed in equal measure.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The organization is also working with ranchers to establish prescribed burn associations to manage the damaging plants and is organizing community cutting days to reduce woody encroachment further.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Store cut or cooked squash in an airtight zip-top bag or container in the refrigerator for up to four days.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington has recently appeared to grow more amenable to resuming military backing for Kyiv’s push to repel Russia’s invasion.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Among the tasks for the troops were repelling migrants and, at least in one instance, troops used tear gas on a group of Venezuelan migrants at the border.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated her regret over Tesla CEO Elon Musk being snubbed four years ago by then-President Joe Biden.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
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By that measure, Sheinbaum should be reminded that sending cheap oil to the decrepit Cuban regime and snubbing the Summit of the Americas in solidarity with the region’s most brutal dictatorships is a betrayal of Mexico’s constitutional commitment to human rights.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jones, again, slighted the punt coverage with a 61-yard return to the Carolina 14-yard line.—
Mike Kaye
September 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
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The former Michigan and San Diego State coach, simply put, has been slighted by the hall.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-arm. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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