stuffy

adjective

ˈstə-fē How to pronounce stuffy (audio)
Definition of stuffynext
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

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 Symptoms can include skin rashes, hives, a stuffy nose, upset stomach, and vomiting. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 If rooms that once cooled quickly now feel stuffy or unevenly cooled, your system may be struggling to circulate air properly. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 Unfortunately, while there are presumably less diverting ways to spend close to two hours in a stuffy, packed multiplex, the movie is a preachy, one-note affair. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2026 And the notoriously unbreathable material, combined with the stuffy weather, created unsettling clouds of pedal condensation on the shoes’ uppers. — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
  1. close
  2. boring
  3. irritable
  4. stifling
  5. tiring
  6. fiery
  7. suffocating
  8. dusty
Adjective
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Ashley Smith is the manager of player engagement for the NFL, and the siblings are close.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • The main goal of the Cliq earplugs design is to be a stylish alternative to a usually boring piece of gear.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Part ravioli, part lasagna, this one-skillet supper will save you from a boring Wednesday dinner.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of stifling
Adjective
  • The 90 minutes or more will be highly physical and tiring, and only one will remain standing at the end.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of tiring
Adjective
  • New research, however, suggests our planet has a better chance of escaping that fiery end than previously thought.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 July 2026
  • That precocious talent combines with her naturally confident disposition to create one fiery competitor.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of suffocating
Adjective
  • Their Victorian house looks preposterous in this dusty hamlet.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
  • Miners flooded the dusty flats surrounding this area after three Irish prospectors, who had immigrated to Australia in the hopes of making their fortunes, accidentally stumbled across gold while looking for water in 1893.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of dusty

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stuffs
stuffy
stumble
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Cite this Entry

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stuffy for Spanish Speakers

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