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
Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
Kentucky has particularly stiff competition in neighboring Ohio, where libraries have benefited from generous state funding.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Dec. 2024
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
While their lawyers were not readily available for comment, court documents offer a glimpse into the life of Baskerville, who got the stiffest punishment in the group.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
Kentucky has particularly stiff competition in neighboring Ohio, where libraries have benefited from generous state funding.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Dec. 2024
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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This adaptability means you’re not locked into a rigid method.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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Together, the observations point to a rigid, mostly solid interior beneath Io’s surface, rather than a global magma ocean — solving a 45-year mystery started by Voyager 1’s observations.Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Carro, known for his tough stance on crime and his experience with cases involving terrorism enhancements, will play a key role in shaping the trial's proceedings.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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In the streaming era, brands still matter, and studios still matter, but the companies at the heart of the entertainment business are already making tough choices about where to place their bets.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Causes Depending on the type, blisters can be caused by excessive force or injury to the skin, heat, moisture, friction, fractures, and certain health conditions.Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024
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Interestingly, orexin deficiency is a leading cause of narcolepsy, a sleep disorder marked by episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness.Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
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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That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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In a poll — admittedly unscientific — conducted on X during the three hours leading towards kick-off, the abnormal, uncomfortable and unfamiliar position Newcastle fans found themselves in was evident.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
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There are moments in which a young person can feel uncomfortable.Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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Musk’s position in the Trump administration will be as a nongovernmental adviser through his co-lead of a government efficiency commission, so his actual authority is more difficult to measure than that of a Cabinet secretary or a full-time White House staffer.David Ingram, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Mauricio Vidal has a keen eye for capturing the Caribbean region’s natural beauty, his formal framing giving careful attention to the way the environment really is a titular character here.Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 21 Dec. 2024
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On one end, a formal living and dining space with an elegant fireplace overlooks the glittering city lights, tall ceilings and herringbone floors bookending this impressive backdrop for hosting.Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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When these interact with hot water, they can get released into the tea and end up being drunk.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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Fruit flies sing, get drunk and can be kept awake with caffeine, suggesting even more similarities between their brains and ours.Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stiff
Cite this Entry
“Stiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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