stiffly

adverb

Definition of stifflynext
1
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering stiffly criticized for making such indiscreet comments in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner a stiffly fought battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffly
  1. harshly
  2. strongly
  3. severely
  4. vigorously
  5. oppressively
  6. forcibly
  7. firmly
  8. fiercely
Adverb
  • Her intentions were made clear in exchanges on social media with Bowden, who harshly criticized Honeycutt for crossing party lines, particularly for talking with Ocasio-Cortez.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • For gaining independence, it was harshly punished financially.
    — Elisa Turner, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • In Beacon Falls, Danbury and Cromwell, developers have strongly signalled their intentions to build but haven’t filed official zoning applications.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Brand, who strongly denied wrongdoing, will be sentenced next week.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • Hospitals in the north lack health workers, medicines and equipment, while ambulance services are severely limited and insecurity is obstructing medical deliveries, Tedros said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Utley fractured the vertebrae in his neck and severely damaged his spinal cord.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • The letter warns that any attempt by Alterra to stop paying rent or abandon the premises without resolving its contractual obligations would be vigorously contested.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In experiments plants that are rigidly staked to prevent their movement or that are grown in pots and turned out of sync with the Sun grow less vigorously and have fewer or smaller leaves.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of vigorously
Adverb
  • The legislative push, first reported by The New York Times, aims to show a united Democratic caucus taking quick action on the issues they were elected to solve, especially oppressively high costs on everything from gas to groceries.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The summer had seen Europe endure an oppressively dry, hot summer, which had seen wildfires spring up across the continent.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • In Germany, nighttime riots injured more than 100 police officers and damaged or looted stores; in Lisbon, Portugal, police forcibly cleared a housing protest encampment.
    — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, police in Portugal early Sunday forcibly cleared a tent camp set up in Lisbon by activists protesting against high housing costs.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • It got scuttled by courts in Missouri and then firmly defeated by its voters Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Brand firmly denied all the charges, based on allegations made by six women.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • The easy chemistry translates into the competition itself, where Levine notes that the four coaches are all fiercely competitive, but without the kind of animosity that can sometimes come with fighting over artists.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Greg’s colleagues from over the years describe him as fiercely competitive, not just with work projects but also with hobbies like running and weight lifting.
    — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fiercely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

stiffing
stiffly
stiff-necked
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Cite this Entry

“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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