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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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
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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
-
Some might see you as arrogant.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson returns as Wes Bryant, a handsome, intelligent, but arrogant man who had just moved to Seattle and was revealed to be a new medical intern at Grey Sloan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kabul wants to boost cooperation with an India that is also at odds with Pakistan, and as the Taliban continues to seek formal international recognition as the government of Afghanistan.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The company contested the findings and eventually reached a formal settlement, OSHA records show.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Uninhibited by the European commitments of their rivals following last season’s dreary eighth-place finish, Massimiliano Allegri has wasted no time moulding the Rossoneri into a stubborn outfit that sit within two points of the summit after a 0-0 draw at Juventus before the international break.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That damaging psychic weight of insecurity and self-blame seeps into our society and politics, where polls show a stubborn and longtime trend of declining faith in a better future.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The pool of possible questions was raised to 128, and the requirement for correct answers raised to 12 out of 20 asked.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Whoever wins or doesn’t win, Markman is adamant that trophies don’t define us.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Much to the dismay of Gen Z striving for success with a manageable work-life balance, CEOs are adamant that intense schedules are essential for anyone looking to make it in business.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Today’s flats are a far cry from the stiff styles of my childhood.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The branches are a bit stiffer and the branches kind of stick straight out, the tree might not be as natural looking as some others on the market.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This one, for example, has fun detailing on the sleeves and a nice roomy fit that looks as comfortable as a sweatshirt.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Bills come due, eventually, in every sense, though reported name, image and likeness earnings nearing $2 million at Utah are a nice buffer.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Banners hang from the eaves of many houses, a solemn reminder to mark where residents were either killed or kidnapped.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Yom Kippur is the most solemn Jewish holiday, marking the end of the 10 Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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