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
  • 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
  • He was fired, a little harshly, in May 2021 after one season, having delivered a Coppa Italia to go with a fourth-place finish.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • That so many teams were capable of winning races showed how well the crews performed, especially considering the breeze was again blowing strongly across the Solent, around 17 knots and sometimes gusting over 20.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • Star first baseman Bryce Harper has strongly advocated for aggressive trade deadline moves, suggesting the team acquire expensive veterans.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of strongly
Adverb
  • Prioritizing economic return over the broader purpose of education could severely damage foundational academic fields and society itself.
    — Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • But thousands of public comments come from scientists, who warn that the rule, as written, would severely curtail their work treating pediatric cancers, improving maternal health and advancing fundamental research.
    — Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • Lederberg and other exobiologists sought funding and support for exobiological research and advocated vigorously for spacecraft sterilization.
    — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 30 July 2026
  • Congressman Miller will continue to vigorously defend his reputation against false and reckless allegations designed to inflame public opinion rather than reflect reality.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 29 July 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 Russia’s defense ministry, Russian forces overnight struck down 133 Ukrainian drones over Russia, the Black Sea and Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow forcibly annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • Advertisement Activist Sonam Wangchuk was then forcibly taken to hospital after 26 days of a hunger strike meant to bring attention to protesters’ demands.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 25 July 2026
Definition of forcibly
Adverb
  • Hafley even firmly stated his commitment to the run during his opening press conference.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Azzuro said about 1,000 invasive species have been identified in the Mediterranean, with 800 of them firmly established.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of firmly
Adverb
  • But behind the glamour was a private, fiercely independent woman whose legacy has too often been overlooked in Hollywood history.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Hasina fiercely criticized the interim administration led by Yunus.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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