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
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
The price of gasoline in California should remain stable if President-elect Donald Trump imposes stiff tariffs on Canada and Mexico, experts say.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025
Bob Verini, Variety, 14 June 2024
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
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
Doc Short Contenders Give Voters Plenty to Ponder The 15 films that made the shortlist in the Oscars’ documentary short category are all powerful and thought-provoking, making the competition for an Academy Award nod incredibly stiff this year.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
The price of gasoline in California should remain stable if President-elect Donald Trump imposes stiff tariffs on Canada and Mexico, experts say.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
Popular on Variety These additions — and moments in which ordinary working stiffs are given opportunities to take stage — deepen the critique of the hedonism and cult of celebrity that followed World War I and, it’s suggested, continue to plague us today.
—Bob Verini, Variety, 14 June 2024
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
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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Here’s one of my favorite changes: For loans up to $500,000, lenders can now use their standard credit policies rather than following rigid SBA-specific guidelines.Matthew Meehan, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
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High upfront costs, extensive operational requirements, and rigid structures often deter potential franchisees.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Resolutions often fail due to an all-or-nothing mindset full of tough self-criticism.Jane Hanson, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Rempe became a fan favorite in New York as a rookie last season, making a name for himself around the NHL by fighting the league's biggest and toughest stalwarts.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Indian rupee has been depreciating against the U.S. dollar this week, but the government has enough foreign exchange reserves to stem any excessive currency moves, sources within the government said.Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
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Forgiveness for students who saw excessive loan interest after 10 or 20 years would likely no longer be an option.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
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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For extra reliability, choose a suitcase with a hard shell crafted from either polycarbonate or aluminum.Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Be realistic The most uncomfortable truth of the last few days has been how quickly firefighting efforts were overwhelmed and outmatched by the extreme fire conditions, Cohen said.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
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Aviation may be one of the safest forms of transportation, but unexpected turbulence can be an uncomfortable or even dangerous experience for airline passengers.Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Simplifying Complexity Through Narratives Leaders often need to communicate complex strategies or concepts, which can be difficult for teams to fully grasp.Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that's difficult to detect.MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But the formal process of renaming territories, both at home and abroad, would take greater effort.Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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Nearly all participants had a formal ADHD diagnosis, and roughly half took psychostimulants for treatment.Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Like, straight-up crazy, drunk wrestled in the middle of...Julia Moore, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
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The man accused of driving drunk and killing hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, pleaded not guilty Tuesday after rejecting a plea deal that would have included a 35-year prison sentence.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near stiff
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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