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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff-necked
But some Jews stubbornly refused to assimilate and continued the sometimes strange and stiff-necked traditions of our people.
—
TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
Adjective
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Notoriously arrogant comedy legend Kent Romero might first bring to mind Chevy Chase for readers, perhaps even 1980s stars like Judge Reinhold, but with his Venezuelan-American background, he was also inspired by real-life groundbreakers like Freddie Prinze.—
Lee Kelly,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
As the sun and Jupiter clash, you’re cosmically protected, but arrogant behavior won’t get a pass.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
He was ordered to complete a 52-week domestic violence program and sentenced to three years of formal probation.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But the unpopular war with Iran and stubborn affordability issues have given Democrats cause to be more hopeful about their chances of flipping key seats and even winning control of the Senate.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Once verified, the system automatically moves them into the correct account type.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The guard also feels the Sky landed on the correct balance of personalities in the roster.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Following their Play-In loss, Leonard was non-committal about his future, but Frank was adamant about the team’s intentions.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
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The police were very adamant from early on in the investigation that no one in the Guthrie family was involved.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, Magyar would face a stiff challenge to meet the EU’s demands and unlock some funding before an August 31 deadline.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Apply degreaser to the stain, and use a stiff brush to work it into the concrete.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
North Texas will see a nice break from any rain before chances quickly return late Friday to Saturday.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jacob Wilson hit a two-run single and made a nice defensive play at shortstop, helping the Athletics to a 2-1 win over Texas on Tuesday night that ended a seven-game losing streak against the Rangers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Scenes from some of the Robert Pearson character’s old movies are done in a 1940s Hollywood style using young actors that resemble James Dean or Robert Mitchum juxtaposed with the stark, solemn, isolated existence of the elderly Pearson.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
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Although the pope celebrates mass regularly on Sundays, feast days, and many other occasions, the Urbi et Orbi blessing is much rarer, reserved for solemn events in the church’s liturgical calendar.—
Leo XIV,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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