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
Relevance
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
Adverb
-
In a follow-up study, highly attractive female fitness influencers faced stronger backlash than equally attractive men, perhaps reflecting a broader social tendency to judge women’s looks more harshly.—
Abby Frank,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025 -
The Next Gen Stats model graded the decision even more harshly, a 7% dip in win probability.—
Sam McDowell
November 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Spacetime may be more strongly curved inside of a black hole’s event horizon, but anything that happens in there can’t get out; nothing can escape a black hole’s interior, even at the speed of light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Nov. 2025
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Picking up on these threads, the third week’s installments show that even when the current is pulling too strongly, there’s still a choice to make.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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In a separate case, Jake entered a guilty plea to a charge of willful neglect of a child just two years ago after severely abusing his 10-week-old daughter.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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To the south, Mexico’s GDP contracted in the third quarter, sparking fears of a recession, as the industrial sector, ranging from mining to construction to manufacturing, has been severely impacted by trade tensions.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
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With the Tegna deal pending, Nexstar’s decision was seen as an attempt to get in the good graces of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who had vigorously criticized Kimmel’s remarks and suggested local TV stations could lose their broadcast licenses if Kimmel were not taken off the air.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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On an oppressively hot Friday in July, plumes of smoke curl up from Arnolds Field.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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One of them was always around, and one of them left forcibly.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
-
One of Johnson’s timeliest essays, though, is about Alien, Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror about an extraterrestrial creature that forcibly impregnates a member of a commercial hauling ship, killing him when the alien fetus bursts out of his abdomen.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was firmly behind his team going to Miami.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But 2025 has firmly accelerated his move from rising talent to in-demand star with three films and three wildly different performances.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The deal, seen as crucial to cementing family control over the Samsung empire, was fiercely opposed by minority investors, including Elliott Management and Mason Capital, who argued the terms undervalued C & T shares.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
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Toklas went on to fiercely uphold the author’s legacy, honoring Stein’s apparent desire to be understood while at the same time respecting her equally strong wish to remain elusive.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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