stiff-arm

1 of 2

verb

ˈstif-ˌärm 

stiff-armed; stiff-arming; stiff-arms

intransitive verb

: straight-arm

transitive verb

1

: straight-arm

2

: to treat with disdain or neglect : slight, snub

stiff-arm

2 of 2

noun

: straight-arm

Synonyms

Verb

• cold-shoulder
• cut
• high-hat
• slight
• snub
• stiff

Examples of stiff-arm in a Sentence

Verb

in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Canada and Denmark currently offer a striking contrast in playbooks for responding to a suddenly hostile U.S. While Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking a stiff-arm tactic for the moment, others are like the Danes and trying to accommodate Trump’s impulses. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025

And his actions to stiff-arm Congress by ignoring laws and funding instructions during his 100-day blitz of executive directives have stoked mistrust among Democrats in both chambers. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 6 Feb. 2025

Daniels mustered an escape with a stiff-arm and lateral burst. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025

Andrew Greif Two stiff-arms and 24 yards later, Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert turned a second-and-1 situation into a touchdown for the Eagles. —NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025

They stiff-arm congressional subpoenas or demands for information with spurious claims of state secrets, executive privilege or unwritten tradition. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025

There was more than a grain of truth to the lament by Pence and company that the Democrats in Washington were stiff-arming comprehensive immigration legislation backed by Republicans and the Trump administration. —John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Feb. 2024

Washington’s offense still controlled the ball and clock enough, however, to stiff-arm the Giants’ late push away. —Pat Leonard, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2024

McIntosh once again showcased his burst and contact balance, fighting through defenders, stiff-arming tacklers and falling forward to generate explosive runs. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stiff-arm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm