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
-
Intense protests related to economic issues broke out in Iran in early 2026, but were harshly quelled.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
18 May 2026 -
Later, people tell me that the police interrogated her like a potential suspect—not harshly, just because of standard procedure.—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
The brand is strongly associated with its famous Champion sneaker, a low-profile, minimalist canvas shoe which was created in 1916.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
There will be no parking on site, so organizers strongly encourage attendees to use CTA and Metra to get there.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
Duren severely underperformed in the postseason after having a career year.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
And because harpies rely on large emergent trees for nesting and an extensive, continuous canopy for hunting, even partial deforestation will severely disrupt their ability to breed and forage.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
The agency is detaining people who are in the middle of applying for legal status, and the Justice Department has directed hard-line immigration judges to deny bail and ICE attorneys to pursue deportations as vigorously as possible.—
Caitlin Dickerson,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
Israel, home to many Holocaust survivors and their relatives, has vigorously denied the claim.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
The first of the four chapters is an oppressively gray-toned, narratively diffuse spy thriller, set amid the mists of what appears to be the Second World War.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adverb
-
The scenes of security personnel forcibly removing weeping and resistant settlers deeply divided Israeli society.—
Shira Pinson,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
Federal immigration agents forcibly detained an American citizen in New York City in early May, prompting a Democratic congressman to call for an investigation into the incident.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Adverb
-
April 20 – May 20 Your mood may be harder to hide when outside expectations press too firmly.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
The Cardigan Once relegated to the back of office chairs as a precautionary layer, the cardigan has firmly reestablished itself as a key component of the modern work wardrobe.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Perry plays Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s deeply religious and fiercely protective mom — a character originally portrayed in The Big Bang Theory by her real-life mother, Laurie Metcalf.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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The fantasy drama follows 10-year-old Bernardo, who after his father’s death, clings fiercely to his mother while secretly caring for an injured baby goat deep in the rainforest.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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