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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Made from a quick-drying, breathable nylon fabric, these pants wick away sweat on a stuffy airplane or long hike. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026 The Majestic espouses a traditional luxury hotel style without feeling stuffy or pretentious. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Symptoms can include hives or a skin rash, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea, a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and asthma, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 7 July 2026 Elevated basics like these make any outfit look more done-up without feeling stuffy. — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 3 July 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
  • The play was a no-call, but Clark took exception to the physicality and yelled at the closest official.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The carrier is flying about 6,500 flights per day this year — nearly an entire Alaska Airlines more worth of travel more than its closest competitor, according to Cirium — yet American’s profit gap has grown.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • Anyone looking to change their old, boring, heavy bag routine should consider a boxing reflex ball.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • Peace lily The peace lily may be one of the most common flowering houseplants around, but this tranquil botanical with tropical origins is anything but boring.
    — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Perelman said people who have weakened immune systems and those with irritable bowel disease may want to talk to their doctors before incorporating the foods into their diet.
    — Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • Of course, the players were tiring, and Argentina were always going to respond, but Tuchel’s substitutions made England passive.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • But just like fashion, the world of Instagrammable food proved tiring too.
    — Violet Conroy, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of tiring
Adjective
  • Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco kicked off Thursday’s press conference with a strongly fiery rebuttal of the cut as well as a promise to challenge it in the courts.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 July 2026
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators at a fiery hearing this week that the Pentagon is running short of cash, despite a massive $150 billion one-time allotment in last year's big budget bill.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 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
  • Don’t make changes, and you’re accused of being a dusty, immovable relic that fights to maintain relevancy.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 23 July 2026
  • The 21st-century Red Sox have won four World Series championships, and Galehouse is just a dusty chapter in Red Sox history.
    — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of dusty

Browse Nearby Words

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 24 Jul. 2026.

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