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
Some artists have extended that direct-to-fan ethos to press, giving traditional journalism the stiff-arm.
—
John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026
The next game, stiff-arming guys.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
After stiff-arming challengers on the front 9, Cink played free and easy.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Stripe can’t pay with its own shares, and would need rock-solid debt commitments to rebut any stiff-arm from PayPal.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The 24-song set reeled in an impressive 280,000 equivalent album units, stiff-arming a surging Bad Bunny from pole position.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2026
Indiana kept its circle tight and held its belief tighter, stiff-arming infiltrators and doubters with equal authority.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
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
John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026
The next game, stiff-arming guys.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
After stiff-arming challengers on the front 9, Cink played free and easy.
—Jay Paris, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Stripe can’t pay with its own shares, and would need rock-solid debt commitments to rebut any stiff-arm from PayPal.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The 24-song set reeled in an impressive 280,000 equivalent album units, stiff-arming a surging Bad Bunny from pole position.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2026
Indiana kept its circle tight and held its belief tighter, stiff-arming infiltrators and doubters with equal authority.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-arm
Verb
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Kurts told him about a recent immunology breakthrough where his team could isolate magnetic cells from rodent spleens.—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
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With the Valkyries pushing the ball up the floor, Jocytė got the ball isolated 1-on-1 with Fever star Caitlin Clark.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
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All of which brings us to a basic conclusion: implicit in their support for the IFPA’s implementation, Illinois business owners are making explicit their desire to stiff their workers.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Generally, my blowout starts to get limp and stiff around day three (despite sleeping in overnight blowout rods), but the week of my Cécred test, my mane still looked fresh-out-the-salon by day five.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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As of last month, according to Yahoo Sports, more than $125 million worth of NIL compensation that had been promised to athletes had been rejected by the clearinghouse or was still under review.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Consignment stores rely on stocking items that feel current, so anything that screams a specific past era—think cold-shoulder tops or a bandage dress—isn’t likely to make the cut.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
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Over the next half decade, Biden cold-shouldered the Turkish government.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There was so much energy and enthusiasm and ambition coming out of those gatherings that anyone who got near us was in danger of being repelled by the sheer force of it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
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It’s meant to contrast with the walls designed to repel refugees.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The suit goes on to recount several other instances between 2022 and 2023 when Noakes appears to either snub or discount Conaway.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
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But George had courted, and then snubbed, Richmond’s teen-age sister Sarah, marrying a minor German princess instead.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-arm. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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