1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
he was too stiff-necked to admit that "underlings" might have useful ideas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
her dinner parties are typically stiff-necked affairs, more to be endured than enjoyed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
obviously uninterested in hearing any excuses, the stiff-necked officer handed me my speeding ticket with a flourish
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff-necked
But some Jews stubbornly refused to assimilate and continued the sometimes strange and stiff-necked traditions of our people.
—
TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
Adjective
-
Depicting Americans as arrogant, loud, boorish and demeaning of other cultures, the term has stuck and is still mentioned 60-plus years later.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The most radical overhaul of the tax code in our state’s history would require voter approval in November 2026, and that starts by portraying local governments as cartoonishly arrogant, bloated and unaccountable.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Developing intuition, understanding how the business and industry works and understanding how to navigate within an organization are all skills that only come from getting a few years of experience or through formal training.—
Larry English,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Avoiding formal termination also helps companies sidestep severance packages and legal risk.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For Baxter and the stubborn Scot, this marked, at last, the reality of war’s end.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Here’s the case for Scorpio: Wednesday is suss, secretive, brooding, vengeful and stubborn.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Shocking sensory intakes aside, the sober reality is that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no matter how morbid and macabre, were strategically and morally correct.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Not every application of generative AI is so black and white, where humans with the right expertise can determine whether the results are correct or incorrect.—
Emily Riehl,
Scientific American,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
However, Coast Guard officials were adamant that FEMA makes the ultimate decision, and that FEMA’s choices may differ from the Coast Guard’s recommendations.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
30 July 2025
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However, she’s remained adamant that to pull off paying homage to the famed actress, everything must be done right.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Getting into the team will remain a stiff challenge, more so if and when Jacob Ramsey arrives from Aston Villa, albeit there will be four fronts to fight on this season and therefore more games.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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And with everything from the AC blasting to stiff seating, a theater doesn’t always offer an inviting ambience.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There is a blended family about to be formed, as well as a blending of cultures within that family that was nice to see.—
Katie Grant,
Parents,
7 Aug. 2025
-
It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Shortly after the 12-day war concluded, Khamenei emerged from his bunker to lead a solemn religious ceremony.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
-
China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to such actions, and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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