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
The dining rooms are very pretty – especially in winter when the fireplaces roar – but far from stuffy, and the bar room is one of the neighborhood’s coziest spots to sip, snack and savor.
—
Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The antithesis of a stuffy, traditional dining room, the relaxed dining area is perfect for casual meals or cooking sessions with parents and kids.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026
Owner Kevin Timmons — who also owns local chain Nick & Jake’s — wants the space to be a go-to date-night spot, without all the marble and brass of stuffier options.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Over time, especially in a hot and stuffy attic, cardboard boxes weaken, absorb moisture, and can attract pests who see it as an easy snack or a place to nest.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The antithesis of a stuffy, traditional dining room, the relaxed dining area is perfect for casual meals or cooking sessions with parents and kids.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026
Owner Kevin Timmons — who also owns local chain Nick & Jake’s — wants the space to be a go-to date-night spot, without all the marble and brass of stuffier options.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Over time, especially in a hot and stuffy attic, cardboard boxes weaken, absorb moisture, and can attract pests who see it as an easy snack or a place to nest.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
Over the years, Grey and Pollan have remained close, often supporting one another through personal and professional milestones.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The bus depot is two stories beneath the train platform and several blocks from the closest stairway.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The boring lunch ends boringly, with the women sipping their champagne in silence, tucking into their salads, and ignoring the commemorative glasses that no one wanted.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This sounds like a boring event but the boys turn the act of breaking up ice or sleet sheets from the sidewalk into a hockey-like competition.—
Caleb Harris,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It's been a cold, tiring week, but the light at the end of the tunnel that is a Saturday at Ikea picking out lamp shades is finally within sight.—
Joe Mutascio,
IndyStar,
6 Feb. 2026
-
But studies have also shown that consuming caffeine before a mentally tiring task reduces the feeling of cognitive fatigue.—
Katharine Gammon,
Time,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The fiery meeting at the South Shore Cultural Center began with local Ald.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
House Democrats clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday during a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill that devolved into shouting matches and throwing sharp elbows.—
Fritz Farrow,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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After the 49ers’ explosive offense was dominated by Seattle in Week 18, what buttons can coach Kyle Shanahan press to create some offense against a suffocating Seahawks defense?—
Ted Nguyen,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Hues like blush and dusty rose pair well with sandy neutrals, soft grays, and even more saturated colors like teal and fuchsia.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Many objects are very dusty, many objects are located behind dust-rich regions of our own galaxy, and dust itself is a physical object made out of particles with a range of grain sizes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After a few breathless seconds, the man regains his composure.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the minute-long spot, Scott commands a room of soldiers — among them Tom Holland’s Telemachus and Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus — before launching into a breathless retelling of Odysseus, the Trojan War and the infamous trick that brought Troy down.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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