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
Elizabeth lived in a small, stuffy room with no window to the outside.
—
Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
The vibe is romantic and historic but not stuffy, with a design scheme that integrates elements of Japanese design into its bedrooms with floor beds, paper lanterns, and minimalist details.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 8 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
The melodramatic proceedings are too stuffy and bloated to make much of an impact.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
The vibe is romantic and historic but not stuffy, with a design scheme that integrates elements of Japanese design into its bedrooms with floor beds, paper lanterns, and minimalist details.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 8 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
The melodramatic proceedings are too stuffy and bloated to make much of an impact.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And given all of the drama leading into the event, pretty good marks and a relatively boring draft add up to a win.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
As an interactive greeter, Melody shows how smart AI can turn boring service kiosks into friendly, lifelike conversations.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
2 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
-
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
-
Swift herself talked about how tiring the tour was and what her plans for the future were last October on BBC Radio 1 with Greg James.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Continue reading … HEATED EXCHANGE — GOP lawmaker accuses MS NOW host of spewing leftist talking points in fiery clash.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In the bar, expertly crafted drinks range from classics to cocktails inspired by decades that defined the city, and creative signatures like the fiery Spicy Fifty, a blend of vanilla vodka, honey and red chili pepper that packs a warming punch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 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
-
In 2020, stargazers flocked to dark sky locations to view the cosmic traveler Neowise, a visible comet then 64 million miles from Earth, with a dusty tail extending more than a million miles.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The dusty chocolate coating is bitter and unpleasant, and there isn’t enough salt to offset it.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
