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
  • The Houthis have vowed to close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway through which Saudi Arabia exports up to 7 million barrels of oil a day, now that access to the Strait of Hormuz is severely restricted.
    — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Lower-income households feel these pressures more severely, since gas represents a larger proportional share of the budget.
    — Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 12 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
  • David is brilliant—sharp, empathetic and fiercely dedicated to his people.
    — Janine Schindler, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Wisconsin is famous for its Friday fish fry, and regulars are fiercely loyal to their preferred local restaurants.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stiffly for Spanish Speakers

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