1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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2
as in tough
difficult to endure
stiff winds
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3
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?
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4
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough
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5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit
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7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me
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8
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol
seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him
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1
2
as in person
a member of the human race
one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history
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1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
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2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company claiming to sell designer handbags
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Tom Philp, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
If the mattress feels a little stiff at first, Davies recommends giving it some time.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Cookie returned to his post at the bar, where seven or eight working stiffs were lined up, and the two women stood in front of that big, wide window in broad daylight and began passionately kissing.
—Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Bill is a great character, all stiff back and prissiness.
—Laurie Hertzel, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
No drug user can face a stiffer sentence if treatment isn’t an alternative.
—Tom Philp, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
If the mattress feels a little stiff at first, Davies recommends giving it some time.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
Noun
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Cookie returned to his post at the bar, where seven or eight working stiffs were lined up, and the two women stood in front of that big, wide window in broad daylight and began passionately kissing.
—Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
Verb
But the administration's efforts to abolish federal agencies authorized by Congress are likely to meet the same fate as their attempts to stiff USAID contractors.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Bill is a great character, all stiff back and prissiness.
—Laurie Hertzel, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
This man isn’t defined by grand gestures or rigid gender scripts.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
Having the drawstring attached to something rigid makes this job much easier to manage.—
Maryal Miller Carter,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
-
That’s really tough to stop from turning into scoring opportunities for the opponent.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
The lawsuit argues the incident is part of a larger pattern of excessive force by deputies.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2025
-
Among its findings were that Banks used excessive force and falsely imprisoned Myles; that Banks’ use of his dog violated Myles’ Fourth Amendment rights; that Banks and the county were both negligent; and that the county violated Myles’ civil rights by failing to properly train and supervise Banks.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
But after a smattering of deeply uncomfortable and boundary-crossing hangs, Austin decides to sever ties with Craig, who slowly loses his mind trying to win back his erstwhile buddy.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
-
The film is also an introspective interrogation of Cruise's stardom, confronting its main character with uncomfortable realities: his world is artificial, insulated, and fleeting, and his multimillion-dollar good looks could disappear in an instant.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Two of Elissa’s tumors were obliterated that day, but the third was too difficult to reach without repositioning Elissa’s body in a way that would have taken too much time under anesthesia.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Luca Solca sector head for global luxury goods at Bernstein Clouding the picture further, many other premium Swiss watchmakers including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, are privately owned, making their performance difficult to decipher.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Robinhood submitted a formal 42-page proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting the creation of a federal regulatory framework for the issuance and trading of tokenized RWAs.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Ramsay is a filmmaker of undeniable formal wizardry and a fearless explorer of psychological rupture.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Wah’s grandfather told officers that Wah had drunk alcohol earlier that morning at the apartment.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
16 May 2025
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Fairplay not only pulling off the dead grandma lie but also getting drunk at Tribal Council.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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