stiffness

noun

Definition of stiffnessnext
as in indifference

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stiffness The wings need intermediate stiffness (not too rigid, not too floppy), the tail must sit short and close to the body, and the exit angle has to land near 70 degrees. — New Atlas, 13 July 2026 In more severe cases, symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, vision loss, paralysis and coma. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Prolonged sitting can contribute to hip stiffness and limited range of motion. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 11 July 2026 Different woods have different densities, stiffness, and vibration-transmitting properties. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026 Furthermore, modern sedentary lifestyles mean fundamental human movements are chronically undertrained, contributing directly to systemic stiffness and physical burnout. — Ginger Gentile, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 These recovery sandals are built with thick cushioning and arch support that help offset the stiffness that comes from long periods of sitting, even in lie-flat cabins. — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 Per the La Ceiba recall announcement, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes symptoms like fever, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headaches and stiffness. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 The addition of the structure also increased the stiffness of the chassis. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffness
  1. indifference
  2. unconcern
  3. deadness
  4. hardness
  5. aloofness
  6. coldness
Noun
  • The decades of societal and political indifference have been costly.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026
  • If the season ended today, the Marlins, despite their profound indifference to winning or losing, would be in the playoffs.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of indifference
Noun
  • The book’s occasional oases of self-examination are surrounded by dusty expanses of omission and unconcern.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
  • Whatever the reason, Maxwell’s strength and the shark’s apparent unconcern put one of Maxwell’s friends in danger.
    — Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Definition of unconcern
Noun
  • Did the baby’s livingness make Tomm’s deadness louder?
    — Maria Zorn, Longreads, 24 Feb. 2026
  • There is, in the end, a deadness to its clichés about writers and their subjects.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Definition of deadness
Noun
  • Grade 5 titanium is notoriously difficult to work with, its hardness rapidly degrading cutting tools and leaving little margin for error.
    — Richard Mille Contributor, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Water hardness is measured by the milligrams of calcium carbonate per liter of water(mg/L).
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
Definition of hardness
Noun
  • What the rise of 'chalance' says about dating People have equated aloofness with coolness since long before the internet came around.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • My fear manifested as aloofness.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Definition of aloofness
Noun
  • The world of Pride and Prejudice expects women to accommodate male pride as a social fact, to smooth over awkwardness, to accept that status and wealth compensate for coldness or indifference.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
  • Her fierce intelligence helps paper over some of the screenplay’s rougher transitions, and even lends a measure of legibility to Sylvia’s sudden coldness.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
Definition of coldness

Browse Nearby Words

stiff-necked
stiffness
stiffs
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Cite this Entry

“Stiffness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffness. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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