1
as in close
lacking fresh air
the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
nothing stuffy about this science museum—it's all interactive and fun
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
those nursing home residents with a reputation for being chronically stuffy were usually the last to receive attention
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stuffy
The collared button-down paired with matching shorts strikes the right balance between polished and relaxed, without feeling stuffy.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Here are the details that might be making your dining room look stuffy and uninviting, according to designers—avoid these six things.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth lived in a small, stuffy room with no window to the outside.
—Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
No formal, stuffy tuxedos here—just the coolest textured jacket thrown over a shirtdress and boots for the coolest, wear-anywhere outfit.
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Here are the details that might be making your dining room look stuffy and uninviting, according to designers—avoid these six things.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth lived in a small, stuffy room with no window to the outside.
—Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
No formal, stuffy tuxedos here—just the coolest textured jacket thrown over a shirtdress and boots for the coolest, wear-anywhere outfit.
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
Sources close to Canvot, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, have told The Athletic that the message from Glasner after that error was simple.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
López was one of the fiercest critics of then-Mayor Fúnez, a supporter of the mine and close ally of Honduras’ former president, Xiomara Castro.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
An exhausting, preachy, frankly, boring and outdated version of his former self.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Let’s be honest here, and no disrespect to venerable family board games, but Monopoly is kind of boring.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Traveling with a heavy bag can make any journey feel longer and more tiring.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
7 May 2026
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Flimsy nozzles crack and leak, and heavy-duty nozzles get tiring to hold when your garden calls for more watering time than your hands can handle.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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By contrast, Perry’s relationship with her fiery mother was defining.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people were killed and two others injured when two vehicles collided head-on Friday evening along a dusty, deserted stretch of road in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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From rich red ‘Valentine’ to nearly orange ‘Sungold’ and the dusty plum of ‘Purple Bumble Bee,’ cherry tomatoes add instant color to a plate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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