1
as in close
lacking fresh air
the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 stuffy
From a Gabriela Hearst powder pink suit that’s Bianca Jagger-worthy to a sharp, sexy black satin blazer courtesy of (who else) French brand Sandro, the best dressy pant suits for wedding guests are anything but stuffy.
—
Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
Stio nailed the balance between structure and mobility—they’re streamlined without feeling restrictive, and warm without being stuffy.
—Anna Fiorentino, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
The river cruise line feels elevated without being overly stuffy, thanks in part to its Scandinavian design.
—Megan Dubois, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
With plenty of palace intrigue and a winking Favourite-esque sense of humor, The Serpent Queen is far from a stuffy costume drama.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
Stio nailed the balance between structure and mobility—they’re streamlined without feeling restrictive, and warm without being stuffy.
—Anna Fiorentino, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
The river cruise line feels elevated without being overly stuffy, thanks in part to its Scandinavian design.
—Megan Dubois, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
With plenty of palace intrigue and a winking Favourite-esque sense of humor, The Serpent Queen is far from a stuffy costume drama.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
The most appropriate action is to drive to the closest shelter available.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The virus can spread through close contact with someone who is infected, such as by sharing food or eating utensils.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Crank up some music and have a dance party during an otherwise boring moment.—
Margery D. Rosen,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
-
At this point, the UConn-dominance-is-boring crowd has had years to debate during the reigns of several incredible players.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Rather than get irritable online, Medeiros did something positive about it.—
Dan Medeiros,
The Herald News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Manic episodes are described as prolonged periods of mood instability, in which a person can experience extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively, feel depressed or unusually irritable.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But this relief rally may be tiring for now and the optimal reward seems skewed to the downside.—
Jay Woods,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Flying can be tiring, but apparently not as tiring as seeing passengers in pajamas – at least according to one airport.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Blonde ambition, but be a fiery redhead and add a dash of alien glamour.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Be sure to stick around for the twice-daily gunfights staged in the dusty streets by local thespians in 10-gallon hats.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
After each dangerous sequence, however, the singer is shown casually brushing himself off and returning to set, while the stunt performers who executed the risky scenes appear bruised and dusty as filming wraps.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yamamoto had worked six innings to win Game 6, and Glasnow had saved it with three outs on three breathless pitches.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The result is a surreal, almost breathless novel that follows the protagonist’s improbable rise as the Russian film industry’s directorial ingénue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
