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 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 couple just stole $10 million — a theft consequential enough to set the entire story in motion, yet also too boring to depict outside a brief flashback?
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
  • The boring games are usually like watching paint dry and their very dedicated fans are only there for the massive parties.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 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
  • 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
  • The actress and comedian, 46, turned up the heat in a fiery red dress at the 2026 ESPYS.
    — Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • The satellites would only survive about 20 minutes before ultimately plunging to their fiery doom reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
    — Lee Billings & Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 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
  • Sedum nussbaumerianum The Coppertone Stonecrop gets its name from the dusty copper color its leaves turn when exposed to sunlight.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
  • The dry, dusty air can also help limit some storm development by creating a more stable atmosphere.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of dusty

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Cite this Entry

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stuffy for Spanish Speakers

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