1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
difficult to endure
stiff winds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol
seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company claiming to sell designer handbags
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in person
a member of the human race
one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stiff
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
But from the stiff competition, the edgy Geoffrey Mac came out on top.
—Henry Chandonnet, People.com, 31 July 2025
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
Failing to comply can lead to stiff fines (up to 4% of a company’s turnover) and disrupt market access.
—Florent Bouguin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Focusing mostly on the commercial fishing boat Andrea Gail and its doomed crew of working-class stiffs (including pre-megastardom George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, not to mention John Hawkes and John C. Reilly), the film is a clinic in stomach-gnawing tension.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
Contenders are already paying stiff prices to get them.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
But from the stiff competition, the edgy Geoffrey Mac came out on top.
—Henry Chandonnet, People.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
The past two comparable moves in this small-investor proxy, in November 2022 and March 2022, led to stiff near-term declines in the basket within weeks.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
Failing to comply can lead to stiff fines (up to 4% of a company’s turnover) and disrupt market access.
—Florent Bouguin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
Even while stunt workers are getting more recognition, there are still those in the industry who see them merely as working stiffs.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Focusing mostly on the commercial fishing boat Andrea Gail and its doomed crew of working-class stiffs (including pre-megastardom George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, not to mention John Hawkes and John C. Reilly), the film is a clinic in stomach-gnawing tension.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
On the other hand, vague explanations or rigid policies may suggest pay inequities, poor planning, or a top-down management structure.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
Where a human player might be able to adapt if something isn’t working well, a rigid computer program might have loopholes that an experienced player can exploit.—
Andrew Montequin,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Lamont, who had proposed boosting special education aid by $40 million — but not until July 2026 — countered that the state budget already was on pace to exceed the budget cap and that legislators needed to make tough choices and trim spending.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 Aug. 2025
-
For example, as a cost-conscious US retailer whose only supplier is in China, the choices are tough: either pass higher costs onto customers or risk losing market presence altogether.—
Oyku Ilgar,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The weather service predicts that parts of Maryland remain at risk for excessive rainfall and the potential for flash floods.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
14 July 2025
-
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to X on Saturday to say his office was closely monitoring the situation and advised use excessive caution in the affected areas.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
As each couple works to uncover the truth and save their own daughter, long buried tensions and uncomfortable truths erupt, forcing them to abandon any pretence of decency and to question all of their certainties as spouses, parents and friends.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
4 Aug. 2025
-
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Focusing on an arbitrary expected return could be the very reason your financial plan fails.—
Gianluca Sidoti,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Some students may face family challenges that affect their ability to get to school, and some changes to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test, such as its move to online instead of paper form, could be difficult for students who only access computers at school, Maldonado said.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
Diseases that are difficult to manage without early intervention, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer, place a significant burden on health care budgets and patient quality of life.—
Kim Praitano,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Just last year, California Olive Ranch became the first company in North America to receive formal regenerative certification from A Greener World for over 4,600 acres on their own ranches.—
Esha Chhabra,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
As of yet, however, there has been no formal bid, which effectively means limbo.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
The victim told police Cruz-Diaz was drunk and high when the incident happened.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2025
-
And he was arrested for attacking and threatening to kill Sharon while blackout drunk in 1989.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share