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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stuffy
Save yourself the stuffy nose and wash those sheets weekly.
—
Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
There are many options available from common paint brands that can evoke a similar feeling without making your kitchen feel stuffy.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 24 May 2026
Symptoms range from mild to serious and can include skin rashes, hives, a stuffy nose, upset stomach, and vomiting.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 22 May 2026
The wine world is sometimes thought of as stuffy, but not the Willamette.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
There are many options available from common paint brands that can evoke a similar feeling without making your kitchen feel stuffy.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 24 May 2026
Symptoms range from mild to serious and can include skin rashes, hives, a stuffy nose, upset stomach, and vomiting.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 22 May 2026
The wine world is sometimes thought of as stuffy, but not the Willamette.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
But these suites are also closest to the elevators, and the historic walls don’t adequately muffle the sounds of other guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Gertrud would keep the girls close, one on either side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
If your summer wardrobe is feeling a bit boring or outdated, don’t fret — Amazon just added tons of new styles to its sale section, and my top picks are all going for $10 or less.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
Finally, the institution must be financially boring.—
Christos Korgan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even Adam’s irritable female boss, Suzie (Sasheer Zamata), hides under a people-pleasing mask.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 May 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
-
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
-
Driving becomes less stressful, less tiring, less soul-destroying.—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
And Mullin, a 48-year-old former Republican senator from Oklahoma and former mixed martial arts fighter, is also known for fiery exchanges with congressional committees, once challenging a Teamsters leader during a 2023 hearing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
With first-round pick Caleb Downs expected to lock down the nickel cornerback spot, the competition will be fiery for the other two spots.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
This matchup features two ascendant young stars in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama (who finished first and third in MVP voting, respectively), exciting young talent, a legitimate regional rivalry and two suffocating defenses.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
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While any great defense needs the proper personnel to be effective, Jenkins effectively leveraged the Grizzlies’ personnel to create one of the NBA’s most suffocating defenses.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If that bottle hiding in the back of your bar cart is dusty and doesn't taste the same, buy a fresh one.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
The shoes also come in a range of standout colorways, including an electric orange-and-blue combo and an off-white-and-dusty-gray pair.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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