Stiff
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /stɪf/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Stiff is an adjective meaning (of an object) Rigid; hard to bend; inflexible.
Meaning
(of an object) Rigid; hard to bend; inflexible.
More Meanings
- (figurative, of policies and rules and their application and enforcement) Inflexible; rigid.
- (of a person) Formal in behavior; unrelaxed.
- (colloquial) Harsh, severe.
- (of muscles or parts of the body) Painful or more rigid than usual as a result of excessive or unaccustomed exercise.
- (informal) Expensive, pricey.
- (informal) Dead, deceased.
Example Sentences
a stiff drink; a stiff dose; a stiff breeze
He was eventually caught, and given a stiff fine.
“Yes. I believe she has passed quite a stiff exam.”
My legs are stiff after climbing that hill yesterday.
Word Forms
- stiffer
- stiffest
- stiffs
- stiffing
- stiffed
Synonyms for stiff
Depending on context, synonyms include firm, frozen, hard, hardened, immalleable, inflexible.
Antonyms for stiff
Common opposites include flexible, loose, malleable, slack, soft.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include rigid, starchy, hard, immobile, tight, strong.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.