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
  • And violations of public trust are typically judged quite harshly.
    — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Tariff Refunds Spark Political Debate Democratic lawmakers have harshly criticized corporations receiving millions in tariff refunds without passing those benefits on to consumers.
    — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Gallup found that just 2% of Fortune 500 CHROs strongly agree their performance management system actually inspires employees to improve.
    — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Previous-generation Outbacks were functional but had an unfortunate tendency to look as though their infotainment system had been installed by somebody who strongly disliked both computers and human beings.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • But several of those affiliates have severely curtailed their operations since the federal funding was paused.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Prior to those deaths, the US had not seen a measles death since 2015, when a woman with underlying conditions became severely ill.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and resembles a caramel sauce.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • First, the safeguards and rules of any legislation governing college athletics must be vigorously enforceable.
    — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigorously
Adverb
  • 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
  • After a bit of a reprieve from an oppressively hot summer, another heat wave is set to scorch Southern California this week.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • This is the situation to which Haitians living in the United States are being forcibly returned.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
  • More than 350 Greenlandic Indigenous women and girls, including some 12 years old and younger, previously came forward to investigators and reported that they were forcibly given contraception by Danish health authorities.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • How often do coaches who are firmly on the hot seat actually have a bounce-back season to save their jobs?
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Now Norvell enters 2026 firmly on the hot seat, entrusting his future to another transfer quarterback.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • His first job out of law school was as a judge’s clerk at the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, giving him a front-row seat to consequential decisions—and to people who could disagree fiercely without letting those disagreements become personal.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The 48-year-old just fiercely defended him in a lengthy statement to UsWeekly.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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