1
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
use a stiff piece of paper for the project
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Relevance
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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
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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
The Beautyrest Black Mattress is a luxury innerspring designed for sleepers who want support without feeling stuck to a stiff surface.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 June 2026
Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026
When your sugar mixture reaches 230°F, begin beating your egg whites to firm peak stage; egg whites will hold their shape but not quite to stiff peak stage.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Marty Supreme is stuffed with street kids, working stiffs, midcentury aristocrats, and world-class athletes, all clad in crisp, period-accurate garb.
—Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
Once the nest is removed, simply use a stiff brush and soap and water to scrub away any leftover debris and remove any lingering scent that may encourage wasps to build nests in that area again.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
The Beautyrest Black Mattress is a luxury innerspring designed for sleepers who want support without feeling stuck to a stiff surface.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 June 2026
Verb
Best Sweatpant Jeans Gap New Ease Jeans Say goodbye to stiff denim waistbands thanks to the Gap New Ease Jeans.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026
When your sugar mixture reaches 230°F, begin beating your egg whites to firm peak stage; egg whites will hold their shape but not quite to stiff peak stage.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
In February 2021, the Rockies slammed shut their own competitive window, one that had peaked too briefly in 2017 and ’18, by trading Arenado and $51 million to the Cardinals for Austin Gomber and four stiffs.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Marty Supreme is stuffed with street kids, working stiffs, midcentury aristocrats, and world-class athletes, all clad in crisp, period-accurate garb.
—Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
-
Boxy, Straight-Lined Furniture Sharp angles and rigid silhouettes once defined contemporary interiors, but designers are increasingly embracing softer forms.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
-
Accessories made of rigid leather can provide a nice contrast to the dress's sheerness.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
McIlroy bogeyed 18 to finish at one under, squarely in the hunt, considering the tough conditions limited scoring.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
Parker, a former Eagles assistant, has risen quickly through the NFL coaching ranks and now faces a tough task with a roster full of new faces and high expectations.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Too much iron can be dangerous, and excessive vitamin D may lead to high calcium levels and other complications.—
Sara Hoffman,
Verywell Health,
18 June 2026
-
Study author Alexandros Vgontzas, MD, director of the Sleep Research and Treatment Center at Penn State College of Medicine, told Health the results suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness and prolonged sleep latency may be important risk factors for hypertension.—
Zoe Cunniffe,
Health,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Atlas Lions also frustrated their Scottish foes with their physicality, taking down Christie, McTominay and others with a series of hard challenges that did not draw whistles.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
-
The Cardinals had rallied for three runs in the ninth, and Jose Fermin hit a hard grounder to Tolbert’s left.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the atmosphere was uncomfortable enough that Habermas left the institute a year later, to write his Habilitation, or second dissertation, a requirement for qualifying as a professor in German universities.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Don’t suffer through summer in uncomfortable shoes.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Otherwise, those prospects start becoming large contracts that stand more difficult to move or aggregate.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Adebimpe released his first formal solo album, Thee Black Boltz, via Sub Pop last year.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
-
The 8,688-square-foot Colonial Revival has nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, eight fireplaces, Flemish bond brickwork, slate roofing and formal gardens.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Vuvuzelas honked like a chorus of drunk geese, and spectators chattered excitedly.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
NPR,
14 June 2026
-
And his father was a drunk and not a nice person.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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