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
  • Speaking harshly about migrants has been seen as a potential gateway to the hatred that led to the Holocaust.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Yust also alleges prosecutorial misconduct, arguing that a prosecutor improperly urged jurors to sentence him more harshly because of the emotional impact of the trial on them.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Green also strongly believes Gabriel can lead them to where Erica’s body is buried.
    — Yana Johnson, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Ultimately, how successful an AI initiative is at a community hospital strongly depends on how disciplined the implementation is.
    — Christine Schuster, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • The country, severely affected by gangs and a serious humanitarian crisis, has spent years trying to contain crime without much success.
    — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Corals – which have been severely bleached along the entire Tanzanian coastline, and largely wiped out around Zanzibar – are being replanted, to try to grow new populations.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • Cook, stirring vigorously and breaking up pockets of flour as needed, until a thin film forms on bottom and sides of pan and dough comes together into a single mass, 2–3 minutes.
    — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cool-season lawns vigorously expand their roots and blades in spring and fall, making these the best times to fertilize them.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 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
  • Fu urged Taiwan’s government to protect Wang’s family and ensure they would not be forcibly returned to mainland China.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The other option for the United States is a land invasion aimed at forcibly ousting the Iranian regime.
    — JAMES F. JEFFREY, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • Susan and Robert are finally together, or at least moving firmly in that direction.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The phone is made from the same high-quality materials as its Pro iPhones—titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, and Apple's Ceramic Shield—and assembled as tightly and firmly as anything Apple makes.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • But critics of the proposal fiercely rejected the plan over concerns about introducing private interests into the world’s largest soccer tournament that would expect to make a profit on their investment.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The only companies that have to worry about a federal antitrust prosecution at this point are those that Trump fiercely dislikes.
    — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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