Synonyms for
Stiffness
Definition
The quality of being difficult to bend or move.
Synonyms & similar words
clumsiness
rigorousness
harshness
rigourousness
inclemency
severeness
rigour
rigor
severity
gracelessness
awkwardness
hardness
rigidity
inflexibility
hardness
toughness
sturdiness
solidity
density
firmness
resistance
tenseness
tautness
turgidity
immovability
unbendingness
unyieldingness
incapacity
awkwardness
clumsiness
cramp
pain
Synonyms by register
Informal
Literary
Antonyms
Common collocations
- muscle stiffness
- joint stiffness
- neck stiffness
- back stiffness
- stiffness in the legs
- stiffness of the joints
- a degree of stiffness
Word family
Usage note
Stiffness can refer to a physical lack of movement or a more abstract lack of flexibility in personality or behavior. It often implies a negative quality.
Example sentences
- The stiffness in my legs after the workout was unbearable.
- The stiffness of the wire made it hard to bend.
- The stiffness of the new mattress made it uncomfortable to sleep on.
- The stiffness in his back made it hard for him to stand for long periods of time.
- The stiffness of the board made it hard to cut with a saw.
Quotes
"The stiffness of a soldier is his strength."
"The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it isn't open." - Frank Zappa
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge." - Daniel J. Boorstin