Synonyms for
Stiff
Definition
Stiff means not easily bent or flexible, or lacking in ease of movement or fluidity.
Synonyms & similar words
unbendable
soaked
soused
slopped
squiffy
rigid
strong
pixilated
unfaltering
starchy
sloshed
clay
fuddled
cadaver
loaded
besotted
blotto
steady
wet
unshakable
plastered
pissed
potent
corpse
impotent
rigid
hard
unyielding
inflexible
awkward
unbending
immobile
ungraceful
unwieldy
starchy
formal
unfriendly
cool
cold
reserved
aloof
detached
standoffish
formal
unfeeling
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Antonyms
Common collocations
- stiff neck
- stiff breeze
- stiff competition
- stiff drink
- stiff upper lip
- stiff penalty
- stiff resistance
Word family
Usage note
When referring to a person's demeanor, 'stiff' often implies formality or reserve, which can sometimes be perceived negatively. It can also describe something physically rigid or unbending.
Compare "stiff" with another word →
Example sentences
- The cardboard was too stiff to fold.
- He had a stiff neck after sleeping in a strange position.
- The new shoes were stiff and uncomfortable.
- She walked with a stiff gait due to her arthritis.
- He was so stiff with nerves that he couldn't speak.
Quotes
The stiff and unyielding shall be broken; the soft and yielding will prevail. - Lao Tzu
The higher the building, the lower the morals. - Noel Coward
I'm a stiff, I'm a dead man, I'm a ghost. - Tupac Shakur