Stiff

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

Stiff, a. [OE. stif, AS. stīf; akin to D. stijf, G. steif, Dan. stiv, Sw. styf, Icel. stīfr, Lith. stipti to be stiff; cf. L. stipes a post, trunk of a tree, stipare to press, compress. Cf. Costive, Stifle, Stipulate, Stive to stuff.].

•  Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.  [1913 Webster]

  "[They] rising on stiff pennons, tower
  The mid aërial sky."  [1913 Webster]
•  Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated; neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.  [1913 Webster]
•  Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff gale or breeze.  [1913 Webster]
•  Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.  [1913 Webster]

  "It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument."  [1913 Webster]

  "A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause,
  Stiff to defend their hospitable laws."  [1913 Webster]
•  Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected; starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.  [1913 Webster]

  "The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved."  [1913 Webster]
•  Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Bearing a press of canvas without careening much; as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to crank.  Totten.  [1913 Webster]
•  Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff charge; a stiff price.  [1913 Webster]

Stiff neck, a condition of the neck such that the head can not be moved without difficulty and pain.

Syn. -- Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected; starched; rigorous.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Stiff, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 rigid; not flexible.
2 hard to bend or move or turn etc.; not working freely.
3 hard to cope with; needing strength or effort (a stiff test; a stiff climb).
4 severe or strong (a stiff breeze; a stiff penalty).
5 (of a person or manner) formal, constrained; lacking spontaneity.
6 (of a muscle or limb etc., or a person affected by these) aching when used, owing to previous exertion, injury, etc.
7 (of an alcoholic or medicinal drink) strong.
8 (predic.) colloq. to an extreme degree (bored stiff; scared stiff).
9 (foll. by with) colloq. abounding in (a place stiff with tourists).
--n. sl.
1 a corpse.
2 a foolish or useless person (you big stiff).

Idiom

stiff neck a rheumatic condition in which the head cannot be turned without pain. stiff-necked obstinate or haughty. stiff upper lip firmness, fortitude.

Derivative

stiffish adj. stiffly adv. stiffness n.

Etymology

OE stif f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Stiff

Arab, Bowery bum, Latinate, a bit much, abandoned, abusive, adamant, adamantine, afflictive, alcoholic, all thumbs, aloof, arduous, arid, artificial, ashes, austere, awkward, balker, balky horse, barren, beach bum, beachcomber, beggar, beggarly fellow, blah, blank, blighter, blind, blind drunk, bloodless, blotto, blue-collar worker, blunderheaded, blundering, bo, body, bold, bombastic, bones, boorish, boundless, breadwinner, brisk, brittle, buckram, budmash, bum, bumbling, bummer, bungling, butterfingered, cadaver, caitiff, carcass, careless, carrion, cartilaginous, cast-iron, casual, casual laborer, ceremonious, challenging, characterless, cheapskate, chewy, chilly, clay, clownish, clumsy, clumsy-fisted, cohesive, cold, colorless, common laborer, compact, cool, coriaceous, corpse, corpus delicti, costly, cramped, crock, crowbait, cruel, cumbersome, cumbrous, day laborer, dead, dead as mutton, dead body, dead man, dead person, dear, dear-bought, decedent, dense, derelict, determined, devil, difficult, dismal, distressing, dog, dogged, dogie, dour, draggy, drastic, drearisome, dreary, drifter, drunkard, dry, dry bones, dryasdust, dull, durable, dust, dusty, earth, effete, egregious, elephantine, embalmed corpse, employee, empty, energetic, enormous, etiolated, exaggerated, excessive, excruciating, exhausting, exorbitant, expensive, extravagant, extreme, fabulous, factory worker, fade, fancy, fatiguing, fibrous, fingers all thumbs, firm, fit for sea, flat, flinty, flunky, food for worms, forced, forceful, formal, free lance, free-lancer, fresh, full-time worker, fumbling, fundamentalist, gamin, gamine, garron, gauche, gawkish, gawky, gigantic, gluttonous, goat, gone to seed, good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, graceless, grim, gristly, guinde, gusty, guttersnipe, hack, had, halting, ham-fisted, ham-handed, hand, hard, hard-core, hardened, hardy, harrowing, harsh, haughty, heavy, heavy-handed, helpless, hidebound, high, high-priced, ho-hum, hobo, hollow, homeless waif, howling, hulking, hulky, human wreck, hurtful, hyperbolic, hypertrophied, idler, immoderate, immovable, immutable, implacable, impliable, in buckram, inane, incontinent, indomitable, industrial worker, inelastic, inelegant, inexcitable, inexorable, inflexible, inkhorn, inordinate, insipid, intemperate, intense, intransigent, iron, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded, irreconcilable, jade, jejune, jobber, jobholder, jughead, labored, laborer, laboring man, laborious, landloper, lasting, late lamented, lazzarone, leaden, leatherlike, leathery, left-hand, left-handed, lifeless, loafer, losel, loutish, low-spirited, lowlife, lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, luxurious, maladroit, mannered, mauvais sujet, mean wretch, menial, merciless, migrant, miser, moiler, monstrous, mortal remains, mucker, mudlark, mummification, mummy, muscle-bound, nag, navvy, no-good, not affordable, oafish, obdurate, obstinate, of great cost, office temporary, on the downgrade, organic remains, orthodox, out, out cold, out of bounds, out of condition, out of shape, out of sight, out of training, outrageous, overbig, overcome, overdeveloped, overgreat, overgrown, overlarge, overmuch, overpowering, overweening, overwhelming, painful, pale, pallid, paralyzed, passed out, pauvre diable, pedantic, pedestrian, petrified, piker, pilgarlic, plodding, plug, pointless, pokerlike, poky, pompous, ponderous, poor creature, poor devil, potent, powerful, premium, pricey, prim, procrustean, proletarian, punishing, punitive, purist, puristic, puritan, puritanic, ragamuffin, ragman, ragpicker, ramrodlike, relentless, relics, reliquiae, remains, renitent, reserved, resistant, resolute, resolved, rich, rigid, rigorist, rigoristic, rigorous, roarer, rock-ribbed, rockbound, rodlike, rogue, ropy, rosinante, rough, rounder, roustabout, run to seed, rusty, sad case, sad sack, salaried worker, scalawag, sea-kindly, seaworthy, self-employed person, servant, sesquipedalian, severe, sinewy, skeleton, ski bum, skid-row bum, skinflint, slipping, sloppy, slow, snobbish, snooty, snug, soft, solemn, solid, solidified, spanking, spiritless, standoffish, starch, starched, starchy, stark, staunch, steady, steely, steep, sterile, stern, stiff as buckram, stiffened, stilted, stodgy, stone-cold, stone-dead, stoned, straightlaced, straitlaced, stray, street Arab, street urchin, stringy, strong, stubborn, stuffy, sumptuous, sundowner, superficial, surf bum, swagman, swagsman, tasteless, tatterdemalion, taut, tedious, temporary, tenacious, tender, tenement of clay, tennis bum, tense, the dead, the deceased, the defunct, the departed, the loved one, thick, tight, tightwad, tiring, toiler, toilsome, too much, top, tormenting, torturous, tough, tough as leather, tramp, truant, turgid, turnpiker, unaffected, unalterable, unbearable, unbending, unbridled, unchangeable, uncompromising, unconscionable, uncouth, under the table, undue, unflexible, unfriendly, ungainly, ungiving, ungraceful, unhandy, unlively, unmoved, unpayable, unreasonable, unrelaxed, unrelenting, unrestrained, untiring, unwieldy, unyielding, uphill, uptight, urchin, vag, vagabond, vagrant, vapid, vaurien, vigorous, virgate, viscid, wage earner, wage slave, wageworker, waif, waifs and strays, wastrel, waterproof, watertight, weatherly, whistler, wiry, wooden, worker, workgirl, workhand, working girl, workingman, workingwoman, workman, worthless fellow, wretch

ROGET THESAURUS

Stiff

Inelegance

N inelegance, stiffness, unlettered Muse, barbarism, slang, solecism, mannerism, euphuism, fustian, cacophony, words that break the teeth, words that dislocate the jaw, marinism, inelegant, graceless, ungraceful, harsh, abrupt, dry, stiff, cramped, formal, guinde, forced, labored, artificial, mannered, ponderous, awkward, uncourtly, unpolished, turgid, affected, euphuistic, barbarous, uncouth, grotesque, rude, crude, halting, offensive to ears polite, Spoken Language.

Severity

N severity, strictness, harshness, rigor, stringency, austerity, inclemency, arrogance, precisianism, arbitrary power, absolutism, despotism, dictatorship, autocracy, tyranny, domineering, oppression, assumption, usurpation, inquisition, reign of terror, martial law, iron heel, iron rule, iron hand, iron sway, tight grasp, brute force, brute strength, coercion, strong hand, tight hand, hard lines, hard measure, tender mercies, sharp practice, pipe-clay, officialism, tyrant, disciplinarian, precisian, martinet, stickler, bashaw, despot, hard master, Draco, oppressor, inquisitor, extortioner, harpy, vulture, accipitres, birds of prey, raptorials, raptors, severe, strict, hard, harsh, dour, rigid, stiff, stern, rigorous, uncompromising, exacting, exigent, exigeant, inexorable, inflexible, obdurate, austere, hard-headed, hard-nosed, hard-shell, relentless, Spartan, Draconian, stringent, strait-laced, searching, unsparing, iron-handed, peremptory, absolute, positive, arbitrary, imperative, coercive, tyrannical, extortionate, grinding, withering, oppressive, inquisitorial, inclement, cruel, haughty, arrogant, precisian, severely, with a high hand, with a strong hand, with a tight hand, with a heavy hand, at the point of the sword, at the point of the bayonet, Delirant reges plectuntur Achivi, manu forti, ogni debole ha sempre il suo tiranno.

Restraint

N restraint, hindrance, coercion, cohibition, constraint, repression, suppression, discipline, control, confinement, durance, duress, imprisonment, incarceration, coarctation, entombment, mancipation, durance vile, limbo, captivity, blockade, arrest, arrestation, custody, keep, care, charge, ward, restringency, curb, lettres de cachet, limitation, restriction, protection, monopoly, prohibition, prisoner, repressionist, restrained, constrained, imprisoned, pent up, jammed in, wedged in, under lock and key, under restraint, under hatches, in swaddling clothes, on parole, in custody, doing time, cohibitive, coactive, stiff, restringent, strait-laced, hidebound, barkbound, ice bound, wind bound, weather bound, cabined cribbed confined, in Lob's pound, laid by the heels.

Weariness

N weariness, defatigation, lassitude, drowsiness, disgust, nausea, loathing, sickness, satiety, taedium vitae, boredom, ennui, wearisomeness, tediousness, dull work, tedium, monotony, twice-told tale, bore, buttonholer, proser, wet blanket, pill, stiff, heavy hours, the enemy (time), wearying, wearing, wearisome, tiresome, irksome, uninteresting, stupid, bald, devoid of interest, dry, monotonous, dull, arid, tedious, humdrum, mortal, flat, prosy, prosing, slow, soporific, somniferous, disgusting, unenjoyed, weary, tired, drowsy, uninterested, flagging, used up, worn out, blase, life-weary, weary of life, sick of, wearily, usque ad nauseam, time hanging heavily on one's hands, toujours perdrix, crambe repetita.

Ugliness

N ugliness, deformity, inelegance, acomia, disfigurement, want of symmetry, inconcinnity, distortion, squalor, forbidding countenance, vinegar aspect, hanging look, wry face, spretae injuria formae, eyesore, object, witch, hag, figure, sight, fright, monster, dog, woofer, pig, octopus, specter, scarecrow, harridan, satyr, toad, monkey, baboon, Caliban, Aesop, monstrum horrendum informe ingens cui lumen adempt, ugly, ugly as sin, ugly as a toad, ugly as a scarecrow, ugly as a dead monkey, plain, bald (unadorned), homely, ordinary, unornamental, inartistic, unsightly, unseemly, uncomely, unlovely, unshapely, sightless, seemless, not fit to be seen, unbeauteous, unbeautiful, beautiless, semibeautiful, shapeless, misshapen, misproportioned, monstrous, gaunt, dumpy, curtailed of its fair proportions, ill-made, ill- shaped, ill-proportioned, crooked, hard featured, hard visaged, ill-favored, hard-favored, evil-favored, ill-looking, unprepossessing, unattractive, uninviting, unpleasing, graceless, inelegant, ungraceful, ungainly, uncouth, stiff, rugged, rough, gross, rude, awkward, clumsy, slouching, rickety, gawky, lumping, lumpish, lumbering, hulky, hulking, unwieldy, squalid, haggard, grim, grim faced, grim visaged, grisly, ghastly, ghost like, death like, cadaverous, grewsome, gruesome, frightful, hideous, odious, uncanny, forbidding, repellant, repulsive, repugnant, grotesque, bizarre, grody, grody to the max, horrid, horrible, shocking, foul, dingy, gaudy, disfigured, discolored.

Affectation

N affectation, affectedness, acting a part, pretense boasting, charlatanism, quackery, shallow profundity, pretension, airs, pedantry, purism, precisianism, euphuism, teratology, mannerism, simagree, grimace, conceit, foppery, dandyism, man millinery, coxcombry, puppyism, stiffness, formality, buckram, prudery, demureness, coquetry, mock modesty, minauderie, sentimentalism, mauvais honte, false shame, affector, performer, actor, pedant, pedagogue, doctrinaire, purist, euphuist, mannerist, grimacier, lump of affectation, precieuse ridicule, bas bleu, blue stocking, poetaster, prig, charlatan, petit maitre, flatterer, coquette, prude, puritan, affected, full of affectation, pretentious, pedantic, stilted, stagy, theatrical, big-sounding, ad captandum, canting, insincere, not natural, unnatural, self-conscious, maniere, artificial, overwrought, overdone, overacted, euphuist, stiff, starch, formal, prim, smug, demure, tire a quatre epingles, quakerish, puritanical, prudish, pragmatical, priggish, conceited, coxcomical, foppish, dandified, finical, finikin, mincing, simpering, namby-pamby, sentimental, conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.

Pride

N pride, dignity, self-respect, mens sibi conscia recti, pride, haughtiness, high notions, hauteur, vainglory, crest, arrogance, proud man, highflier, fine gentleman, fine lady, dignified, stately, proud, proud-crested, lordly, baronial, lofty- minded, highsouled, high-minded, high-mettled, high-handed, high- plumed, high-flown, high-toned, haughty lofty, high, mighty, swollen, puffed up, flushed, blown, vainglorious, purse-proud, fine, proud as a peacock, proud as Lucifer, bloated with pride, supercilious, disdainful, bumptious, magisterial, imperious, high and mighty, overweening, consequential, arrogant, unblushing, stiff, stiff-necked, starch, perked stuck-up, in buckram, strait- laced, prim, on one's dignity, on one's high horses, on one's tight ropes, on one's high ropes, on stilts, en grand seigneur, with head erect, odi profanum vulgus et arceo, a duke's revenues on her back, disdains the shadow which he treads on at noon, pride in their port, defiance in their eye.

Ostentation

N ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop, ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic, with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus, honores mutant mores.

Hardness

N hardness, rigidity, renitence, renitency, inflexibility, temper, callosity, durity, induration, petrifaction, lapidification, lapidescence, vitrification, ossification, crystallization, stone, pebble, flint, marble, rock, fossil, crag, crystal, quartz, granite, adamant, bone, cartilage, hardware, heart of oak, block, board, deal board, iron, steel, cast iron, decarbonized iron, wrought iron, nail, brick, concrete, cement, hard, rigid, stubborn, stiff, firm, starch, starched, stark, unbending, unlimber, unyielding, inflexible, tense, indurate, indurated, gritty, proof, adamant, adamantine, adamantean, concrete, stony, granitic, calculous, lithic, vitreous, horny, corneous, bony, osseous, ossific, cartilaginous, hard as a rock, stiff as buckram, stiff as a poker, stiff as starch, stiff as as board.