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stiff-necked

adjective

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1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude he was too stiff-necked to admit that "underlings" might have useful ideas

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2
as in stiff
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details her dinner parties are typically stiff-necked affairs, more to be endured than enjoyed

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3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion obviously uninterested in hearing any excuses, the stiff-necked officer handed me my speeding ticket with a flourish

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Thesaurus Entries Near stiff-necked

stiffly

stiff-necked

stiffness

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Cite this Entry

“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 26 Nov. 2022.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stiff-necked

Britannica English: Translation of stiff-necked for Arabic Speakers

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