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
-
Leo will find a legislature that is highly polarized, with the ruling Socialist Party of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hammered by a series of corruption scandals and far-right groups such as Vox harshly criticizing the Socialists’ migration policy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026 -
Justin Stasiw’s soundscape wastes no time throwing the audience into Mumbai, where vehicles, whistles and rickshaws harshly yet thrillingly enter the ears.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Unfortunately, there isn’t an aspect of the finale that strongly references the Carolinas setting.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 June 2026
Adverb
-
The car was severely damaged by the crash, video showed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
The impact with Bell’s Camry severely deformed the SAFER barrier, which is comprised of steel and foam to absorb energy in wrecks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Adverb
-
The idea is to ensure that your grass grows so vigorously that there will be no room for clover.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
-
Cook over medium-high, stirring vigorously with one hand while moving the pan back and forth with the other, until the sauce glossily drapes the noodles, 5 to 7 minutes.—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
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
Adverb
-
McClain, 23, had been forcibly restrained by police, who stopped him in response to a suspicious person complaint as the massage therapist walked home from a convenience store in 2019.—
Mead Gruver,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The 31-year-old alleged stalker reportedly tried to forcibly enter the singer's home.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Adverb
-
Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
But what might seem like a fleeting trend is firmly rooted in longheld culture, integrated into people’s routines and wellness practices for centuries.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
Erving saw in Brent not only exceptional talent, but a fiercely independent spirit that reflected the future of music.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
8 June 2026
-
Both of us fiercely love our son 100 percent of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Stiffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffly. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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