1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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2
as in tough
difficult to endure
stiff winds
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3
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
don't you think that's a pretty stiff fine for such a minor infraction?
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4
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
stir two cups of flour with the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough
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5
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt stiff and ill-at-ease whenever she was introduced to her parents' friends
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
we'll have a stiff climb to actually reach the summit
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7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
the stiff politeness with which I was greeted suggested that they weren't truly happy to see me
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8
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol
seeing that the customer was more than a little stiff, the bartender offered to call a cab for him
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1
2
as in person
a member of the human race
one lucky stiff will get the biggest jackpot in the lottery's history
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1
as in to cut
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the actress has a reputation for stiffing the press at red-carpet events
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2
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
customers who were too embarrassed to admit that they had been stiffed by an Internet company claiming to sell designer handbags
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
And just about every single stat on paper for the Gravity also bests stiff competition from Tesla’s Model X and Rivian’s R1S.
In Grand Touring trim, the Gravity puts out 828 hp while managing an EPA range estimate of up to 450 miles, depending on wheel and tire combos.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 May 2024
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2024
Owning versus renting Owning a unit can cost less each month than renting, but stiff down payments make ownership impossible for most, says Nishant Sondhi, a real estate agent and fund manager who raises money for developments in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
—Hillary Chura, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stiff 
Adjective
The Wall Street firm moved to the sidelines following two quarters of mixed results, while its advertising survey showed stiff competition.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
And just about every single stat on paper for the Gravity also bests stiff competition from Tesla’s Model X and Rivian’s R1S.
In Grand Touring trim, the Gravity puts out 828 hp while managing an EPA range estimate of up to 450 miles, depending on wheel and tire combos.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
Being a working stiff can be anathema to those with the founder gene, who find the uncertainty of entrepreneurship equal parts freeing and exhilarating.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 May 2024
The Thing is one of those rare sci-fi horrors that stands the test of time due to its suspenseful pacing and its groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin, leaving you both frozen and scared stiff.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
Verb
While sage grown as an annual usually won't turn woody, sages are semi-woody shrubs and will start to thicken and get woody and stiff over the years.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2024
Owning versus renting Owning a unit can cost less each month than renting, but stiff down payments make ownership impossible for most, says Nishant Sondhi, a real estate agent and fund manager who raises money for developments in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
—Hillary Chura, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
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This adaptability means you’re not locked into a rigid method.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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Together, the observations point to a rigid, mostly solid interior beneath Io’s surface, rather than a global magma ocean — solving a 45-year mystery started by Voyager 1’s observations.Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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However, being unable to control excessive behaviors can cause people to stretch beyond their means and compromise their well-being and personal sustainability.Sandro da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Because peace had prevailed for 15 years following the end of World War I, Borah argued, global military spending was excessive.Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
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The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss.Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Those numbers might have been a tad uncomfortable to handle, and the markets didn’t want to take inflation hot to go.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
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Trading either man may be the sort of franchise-altering decision that some are uncomfortable executing.Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency’s own staff and external companies.Stephanie Glenk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Prosecutors argue that Mangione's possession of these items demonstrates an intent to commit a criminal act, though a formal connection to the shooting of Brian Thompson has not yet been established in these proceedings.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Doubling as formal introduction to anyone who hasn’t attended a Bushwick warehouse show with 45 stoned internet rappers on the lineup, Xavier’s tape is loosely threaded together by interview clips and DJ drops that contextualize the Upper West Side native’s referential yet futuristic turn-up music.Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Officers found Stewart drunk behind the wheel of a 2021 Honda Civic.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024
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Be aware of the regulations and know that being drunk in public will almost certainly result in jail time and fines.Joe Niehaus, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stiff
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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