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
-
The government harshly policed interracial relationships.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026 -
Harbaugh must act swiftly and harshly, though, in delivering the change the Giants need.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Many professionals focus on big projects and headline achievements, but research shows that soft skills and visibility strongly influence promotions.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Experts believe misinformation is leading to this decline but strongly recommend vitamin K shots to prevent irreversible harm.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
In the ninth century, a severely disabled woman was buried, her feet bound, in an annex of the church in Elsau, outside Zürich.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The time is never right to severely chop off your crape myrtle.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The vines climb to about 6 feet tall, growing vigorously even through summer heat.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Prevost asks the new Pope, and the two men, beaming, shake hands vigorously.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 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 federal government can’t use state officers forcibly against the state’s will to enforce the law.—
Andrea Katz,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press, ICE leadership stated administrative warrants were sufficient for federal officers to forcibly enter people’s homes if there’s a final order of removal.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Gold in particular has been buoyed by a mix of geopolitical tensions, fiscal uncertainty and concerns over currency debasement, forces that many believe remain firmly in place.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Nets are firmly in the draft lottery picture with 36 games left, and their position is becoming clearer by the day.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Federal officials claimed Good tried to weaponize her vehicle, but that account has been fiercely disputed by both local officials and Good's family.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Serious, even stern, Douglas was highly principled, fiercely uncompromising and personally brave.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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