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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stiff
Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Two days later, Beijing retaliated with even stiffer levies, escalating the economic fight between the world’s largest economies and sending jitters through financial markets.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Al Pacino, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
Yes, the central gimmick of this movie (which is clever) hinges on how the agents and assassins who do the real work are the working-class stiffs who aren't plucked from the Ivy League.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2024
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Yip says features and design elements, everything like a pocket placement to how a jacket may work with gloves—or even how smooth or stiff the zipper sliding action is—is all under consideration when designing.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for stiff
Adjective
The data showed that those who were facing stiffer penalties engaged in less violence.
—Noun
Cookie returned to his post at the bar, where seven or eight working stiffs were lined up, and the two women stood in front of that big, wide window in broad daylight and began passionately kissing.
—Verb
The Arctic air will blast across the the Midwest with subzero wind chill temperatures and stiff northwesterly winds, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff
Adjective
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Mirroring the intricate pattern of the pants, the shirt featured a short, boxy, oversize fit made of rigid cotton denim with a jacquard-weave pattern and a baggy, extra-loose silhouette.—
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The vision that a planner and his state bureaucracy projected onto an agricultural area or a neighborhood was far more rigid and simplified than what already existed.—
Adjective
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Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.—
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On the other side, the Grizzlies had an even tougher time with Curry, who finished with 52 points on 16-of-31 shooting.—
Adjective
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But for others, anxiety is an ongoing disorder that causes excessive worry, and isn't just prompted by stressful situations.—
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Avoid constipation as excessive straining can weaken the pelvic floor.—
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.—
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Adjective
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Not only is this uncomfortable, but scratching (which is hard to resist) can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.—
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Because that bigger picture is a murky, uncomfortable state.—
Adjective
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Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
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Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Adjective
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The public health alert, while not a formal recall, is intended to inform consumers about potential health risks associated with some products, according to the USDA.—
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This easygoing aesthetic introduces itself in the living room, which doubles as the home’s entry since there’s no formal foyer.—
Adjective
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Rivera had been jailed at Santa Rita since May 2022, after California Highway Patrol officers arrested him on suspicion of murder for allegedly driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a woman.—
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How do police tell if drivers are drunk? Law enforcement agencies use a series of physical and mental exercises to determine whether drivers could be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.—
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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