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
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Recent Examples of stuffy
An almost-obsessive devotion to comfort, knowing that your roster of responsibilities is stressful enough without the annoyance of stiff, stuffy clothing.
—
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Keep Air Circulating One of the easiest ways to tackle a painfully hot and stuffy garage in the summer is to keep air circulating.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
This means the majority of people with seasonal allergies will experience strong symptoms including sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes and a postnasal drip.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Heidi Caillier—the AD100 talent behind Kendall Jenner’s mountain home—is known for her ability to devise magical design moments that feel nostalgic and layered without seeming too stuffy or obvious.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Keep Air Circulating One of the easiest ways to tackle a painfully hot and stuffy garage in the summer is to keep air circulating.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
This means the majority of people with seasonal allergies will experience strong symptoms including sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes and a postnasal drip.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
Heidi Caillier—the AD100 talent behind Kendall Jenner’s mountain home—is known for her ability to devise magical design moments that feel nostalgic and layered without seeming too stuffy or obvious.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
There wasn’t much excitement in the building, despite the fact that the game was close until the end.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
He's remained close with the Solari family and has taken Teo Solari under his wing.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Swapping any boring sweater with this one will instantly upgrade your travel wardrobe (without much effort at all).—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
He was meant to only be the stick-in-the-mud boring guy.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
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
Adjective
-
The longtime Florida coach swapped a tiring McDonald for Russell Sandefer with one out in the top of the sixth inning.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2026
-
By combining both the heated air flow of a blow dryer and a round brush in a single tool, this product is much simpler and less tiring to use than working with a separate hair dryer and round brush.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The ingredients were fresh and the balance of tangy citrus notes and fiery spices made for an unforgettable meal.—
Deeya Sonalkar,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
-
Mamdani spoke for roughly eight minutes in a fiery speech about the history of the team, the grind to the championship, the heartbreaking seasons and the perseverance necessary to finally bring a title to New York after 53 years.—
Ryan Morik OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The pressure will be completely suffocating and unfair.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
-
Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
SpaceX's headquarters in Starbase, Texas, which sits at the state's southern tip in the Rio Grande Valley, emerges almost unexpectedly after miles of long, dusty dirt roads.—
Maya Blackstone,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
The nose on my sample kicked off with some dusty funk, espresso, and dark chocolate.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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