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
Loose sleeves with a collar and buttons down the front keep this dress from looking too stuffy, while the combination of magenta and navy is unexpected yet surprisingly wearable.
—
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
This chipping away at self can happen slowly, over time, with each passing day spent resolving sibling squabbles, staying up late to help with homework, cooking family meals, cleaning, carpooling, changing diapers, and wiping stuffy noses.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025
Despite the irony of her preoccupation with designer labels designating her as the stuffy one in the Spice Girls, she was met with scorn by the fashion establishment.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
This chipping away at self can happen slowly, over time, with each passing day spent resolving sibling squabbles, staying up late to help with homework, cooking family meals, cleaning, carpooling, changing diapers, and wiping stuffy noses.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025
Despite the irony of her preoccupation with designer labels designating her as the stuffy one in the Spice Girls, she was met with scorn by the fashion establishment.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
Even as American political polarization has intensified over the last eight years, both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that an increasingly powerful Beijing poses an economic, technological, and security threat to Washington and its close allies.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
On the series, JD and Michelle have grown closer, but in real life, Todd is married to Jordan Wilcox Lasance.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Without getting into spoilers, her one-and-done appearance in Episode 5 presents the perfect opportunity for the more-than-capable Meester to match wits with Bell’s judgmental Joanna, only to strand the actor with boring, obvious jokes and saddle her with a feeble resolution.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
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Now, adidas is also proving that hiking boots don’t have to look boring, since the brand’s perfect-for-fall versions are attractive as can be, what with their mingling of brown with other earth tones.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Emery was irritable at full time.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Additionally, Owens’ youngest child, Titus, who was just a toddler when his mother died, was confused, irritable and inconsolable in the weeks after her death, Dias shared.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But Braun was solid before tiring and working through injuries that affected him on the ball over the final month last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of a chance to flex their goalscoring muscles, United had to grit their teeth and see out a gruelling, tense, tiring second half.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
During the high-speed chase, the two men were forced off the road, where their car exploded in a fiery crash, killing them both, the BBC reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Walston looked at the young upstart actor with a fiery expression.—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Doors and windows were locked, producing a suffocating effect in the hot weather.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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For Perrie Edwards, the studio can be both a sanctuary and a suffocating cocoon.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is not a dusty collection or hodgepodge of Gold Rush artifacts placed around a xeriscape.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The old shelves with their dusty cans were gone, replaced by three wooden pillars, each with a small platform at chest height.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Her voice went breathless again.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Arsenic and Old Lace moves at a breathless pace with our leading man's escalating horrific discoveries.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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