stiff
stihf
Stiff (adjective) means Rigid; not easily bent or moved. Example: “The new leather boots were so stiff that I could hardly bend my feet.”
adjective
1
Rigid; not easily bent or moved.
"The new leather boots were so stiff that I could hardly bend my feet."
"The cardboard was too stiff to fold neatly."
"My neck feels stiff after sleeping awkwardly."
2
Formal or awkward in manner; not relaxed.
"The two strangers made stiff conversation while they waited for the lift."
"She felt stiff and uneasy at the formal dinner, unsure which fork to use."
"He gave a stiff, polite nod and said nothing else."
3
Severe or harsh, especially describing a penalty, competition, or drink.
"The home team faced stiff competition in the final round of the tournament."
"The court handed down a stiff sentence."
"He poured himself a stiff drink after the meeting."
verb
1
Informal: to fail to pay someone what they're owed, especially a tip or bill.
"Some of the diners stiffed the driver and walked off without leaving a tip."
"He was furious that the client had stiffed him on the final invoice."
"The customer stiffed the waiter and left without paying."
noun
1
Slang: a dead body.
"In the old crime novel, the body was a stiff lying behind the warehouse."
"The mortuary worker joked that his quietest customers were the stiffs."
"The detective examined the stiff for clues."
How to use stiff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRigid or hard to move, formally awkward, or (informally) to cheat someone out of money owed.
Common mistake
As a verb ("to stiff someone"), it always means cheating them out of payment — don't confuse it with the adjective sense of "rigid."
Common pairings
stiff competition
stiff penalty
stiff drink
stiff upper lip
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Word forms
- Plural
- stiffs
- Third person singular
- stiffs
- Past tense
- stiffed
- Comparative
- stiffer, more stiff
- Superlative
- stiffest, most stiff
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new leather boots were so _____ that I could hardly bend my feet.
Etymology
From Old English stif, from a Proto-Germanic root related to Latin stipes ("post" or "trunk") — the same root that gives English "stevedore."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for stiff
See all rhymes for 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.
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