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
  • Trump hadn’t yet declared war on Iran, but the country was roiling with protests, which had been harshly suppressed.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Israeli defense officials warned Sunday that the country will hit back strongly if Iran attacks Israel.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • And because local equity markets performed so strongly, Israeli investors shifted long‑term investments back into shekel‑denominated assets, strengthening the currency.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • In the following days, Beretti’s right knee swelled severely, according to her health department complaint.
    — Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • With employees bombarded by hundreds of daily notifications and attention spans shrinking to mere seconds, true productivity and complex decision-making are severely hampered.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • The Heat had a preliminary discussion with the representation for free agent Bradley Beal but hasn’t pursued him vigorously.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • The president fought the outcomes of Carroll’s cases vigorously.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of vigorously
Adverb
  • The oppressively hot and steamy weather was no deterrent for the crowds that lined up along Crandon Boulevard on Saturday to celebrate America’s independence at Key Biscayne’s 67th Fourth of July parade.
    — Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Fortunately, this spell of hot temps will be a generally drier heat — not necessarily oppressively humid like is typical for New England.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • Police forcibly transferred a prominent activist to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike tied to India’s Cockroach Janata Party movement for education reform.
    — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
  • The initial complaint, filed on the day he was apprehended, alleged Hurtado-Cariaco forcibly resisted arrest, according to a pre-sentencing court filing by McWilliams.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • Another season-ticket holder from that first year remembered crowds being firmly in the 5,500 range.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • The decision to leave an underperforming third-party logistics provider (3PL) is usually simple enough, but contract termination fees, system integrations and inventory transfer expenses stand firmly in the way.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • Jason was hissing fiercely; Gordon, who projects a monastic calm, was trying to reason with the mother while batting her back each time the flap swung open.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • Beijing has so far avoided that framing, and is contending fiercely with Washington across the board.
    — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stiffly for Spanish Speakers

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