stiff
20 synonyms and 5 antonyms for stiff, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Rigid; not easily bent or moved.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use stiff
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English stif, from a Proto-Germanic root related to Latin stipes ("post" or "trunk") — the same root that gives English "stevedore."
Full origin of stiff →Frequently asked questions
What does “stiff” mean?
The word “stiff” means rigid; not easily bent or moved. In plain terms, rigid or hard to move, formally awkward, or (informally) to cheat someone out of money owed.
How do you pronounce “stiff”?
“Stiff” is pronounced stihf (/stɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “stiff” in a sentence?
Here is “stiff” used in a sentence: “The cardboard was too stiff to fold neatly.”
What is another word for “stiff”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stiff” include firm, frozen, hard, hardened, inflexible and immalleable.
What is the opposite of “stiff”?
The opposite of “stiff” — its antonyms — are flexible, malleable, loose, slack and soft.
What part of speech is “stiff”?
Depending on how it is used, “stiff” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stiff” come from?
The word “stiff” comes from Latin. From Old English stif, from a Proto-Germanic root related to Latin stipes ("post" or "trunk") — the same root that gives English "stevedore.".
Is “stiff” a common word?
“Stiff” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between stiff and rigid?
Both mean not easily bent, but rigid suggests something completely fixed and unable to bend at all, while stiff suggests resistance to bending that may still allow slight movement. Stiff can also describe manner or a strong drink, senses that rigid lacks.
What is the difference between stiff and hard?
Hard describes resistance to pressure or denting, while stiff describes resistance to bending or flexing. A material can be hard but brittle, or stiff but not especially hard, so the words describe different physical properties.
What does a 'stiff drink' refer to?
A "stiff drink" is one containing a large or strong measure of alcohol. Here stiff carries the sense of severe or harsh, applied to the drink's strength.
What words commonly go with stiff?
Common collocations include "stiff neck," "stiff competition," "stiff penalty," "stiff drink," and "bored stiff." These span the rigid, severe, and intensifying senses of the word.