stuffier; stuffiest
1
2
: lacking in vitality or interest : stodgy, dull
3
a
: oppressive to the breathing : close
a stuffy room
b
: stuffed up
a stuffy nose
4
a
: narrowly inflexible in standards of conduct : self-righteous
b
: stiffly conventional : priggish
stuffy formalities
stuffily adverb
stuffiness noun

Examples of stuffy in a Sentence

It's very stuffy in here. She had a stuffy nose. I had a stuffy feeling in my head. the stuffiest members of that exclusive club
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bingo! Alivia's tantrum hack—to keep things lighthearted—is a simple one, but a great reminder that not everything has to be so stuffy. Tanay Howard, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024 Or maybe a stuffy, lackluster atmosphere puts a damper on the entire getaway. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2024 Frame has disproved the notion that jeans are stuffy and uncomfortable for commuting with this black Jetset Crop Mini Boot pair. Amanda Randone, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2024 But in 2024, do those stuffier parameters—which celebrate beauty above all else—still constitute what makes costuming great? Liam Hess, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stuffy 

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stuffy was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near stuffy

Cite this Entry

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stuffy. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

stuffy

adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
1
2
a
: lacking fresh air
a stuffy room
b
: stuffed or choked up
had a stuffy feeling in my head
3
: lacking in pep or interest : dull, stodgy
4
stuffily adverb
stuffiness noun

Medical Definition

stuffy

adjective
stuffier; stuffiest
: affected with congestion
a stuffy nose
stuffiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stuffy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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