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 then, the organization's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, harshly came out against the plan, releasing a statement to the Associated Press, saying FIFA's staff had been blindsided by it.
    — Rafael Nam, NPR, 31 July 2026
  • Like other senior bankers, Sehnaoui was harshly criticized following Lebanon's historic economic meltdown in 2019, when most people lost access to their money.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Deco called his agent for a meeting this week, but the Frenchman isn’t being strongly linked to anything or anyone as of yet.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Wall said beard follicles are strongly influenced by DHT, which is why beard density often continues to evolve after puberty.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • Shipping traffic remains severely restricted, demonstrating that many shipowners are not willing to risk a possible Iranian attack and underscoring Tehran’s ongoing leverage over Hormuz.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • One pedestrian was killed and another was severely injured during a hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles on Monday, according to Los Angeles police.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • Meritain strongly disputes the allegations and is vigorously defending itself against the complaint.
    — Melissa Lee,Paige Tortorelli,Scott Zamost, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Cut back leggy stems to just above a set of side shoots, which should grow more vigorously after pruning.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigorously
Adverb
  • Survey respondents said their dwellings stayed oppressively hot even at night because overcrowding and poor construction trapped the heat.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 24 July 2026
  • Jackie searches for Madi, wondering if her sister is a victim or a killer while maneuvering an oppressively demanding office and reflecting on her own previous crimes.
    — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • According to investigators, deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to the school after school staff reported witnessing Monroe forcibly grabbing a student and dragging them by the arm.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators later observed that the employee had bruising, facial scratches and a substantial area of hair forcibly pulled from her scalp.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • As the year's biggest event begins, McIntosh is already firmly at the top of the sport.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Step 2 Meanwhile, blend 1 cup (firmly packed) tender herbs (such as parsley, dill, cilantro, and/or basil), ¾ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • Jean is wonderful, a fiercely loyal and maternal figure who sincerely wants to help these women untangle their traumas and get back on their feet.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In a place where the past is fiercely preserved, the most ingenious innovations are the ones that don’t announce their arrival.
    — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 16 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
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Cite this Entry

“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stiffly for Spanish Speakers

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