Definition of stiff - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
muscle painpainful due to exercise or illness
- After the workout, my legs were stiff.
2.
rigidnot easily bent or flexible
- The cardboard was too stiff to fold.
3.
social attitudenot relaxed or friendly
- His manner was stiff and formal at the meeting..
4.
dense consistencythick and difficult to stir
- The batter was too stiff to mix easily.
5.
severityharsh or severe
- The penalty for late submission is quite stiff.
6.
strengthstrong or potent
- He poured a stiff drink to calm his nerves.
7.
maritimeTECH. resistant to heeling or rollingTECH.
- The boat remained stiff in the rough sea.
Adverb
1.
- He was stiff asleep and didn't hear the noise.
2.
- She was scared stiff during the horror movie.
Noun
1.
- The diner was known for being a stiff.
2.
- He's just a stiff, nothing special.
3.
- The con artist found another stiff to scam.
4.
- The detectives found a stiff in the alley..
5.
- He was dealt a stiff and had to be careful.
6.
- He received a stiff from his friend in jail.
7.
- The banker was wary of the stiff he received.
Verb
- He stiffed the waiter on the bill.
Expressions with stiff
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extremely uninterested and disengaged from surroundings
She was bored stiff during the long lecture.
cause someone to feel very anxious or concerned
The news of the accident worried her stiff.
average employee, especially one with a routine, low-paying job
He's just another working stiff trying to make ends meet.
extremely cold and unable to move
After hours in the snow, he was frozen stiff.
experience intense boredom
She was bored stiff waiting for the delayed flight.
encounter strong resistance or disagreement
The proposal met stiff opposition from the community.
leave someone terrified and frozen in place
The horror movie left me terrified and frozen in my seat.
make someone feel extremely bored or uninterested
That lecture would bore the students stiff.
the competitors are very strong
In this market, the competition is stiff.
cause someone to be extremely frightened
The loud noise scared me stiff.
very rigid and difficult to bend
After the cold swim, his muscles were stiff as a board.
very rigid or inflexible in posture
He stood stiff as a poker during the ceremony.
drink with high alcohol content
She ordered a stiff drink to celebrate her promotion.
stoic, unemotional attitude
He maintained a stiff upper lip during the sad movie..
very high cost
The new phone comes with a stiff price.
severe punishment given by a court
The judge gave him a stiff sentence for the crime.
reject or ignore someone deliberately
She gave him the stiff arm at the party.
someone who is very lucky
He won the lottery again, that lucky stiff!
pain and difficulty in moving the neck
After sleeping awkwardly, she woke up with a stiff neck..
challenging contest with strong opponents
The tournament featured stiff competition from teams around the world.
suddenly become rigid because of extreme fear
He saw the ghost and went stiff with terror.
wind blowing stronger than usual but not a storm
The sailors enjoyed a stiff breeze on the lake.
very difficult upward path or journey
That was a stiff climb to the top of the hill.
strong resistance or challenge from others
The team faced stiff opposition in the finals.
Origin of stiff
Old English, stīf (rigid)
Terms with stiff included in their meaning
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animal hair
long stiff hairs near an animal's mouth
headwear
cap with rounded crown and stiff bill
headwear
soft cap with a rounded crown and stiff bill
type of hat
rounded cap with a small stiff brim in front
physical objects
not firm or stiff
ski equipment
stiff boot fastened to a ski with bindings
clothing
stiff hat with a flat crown made of straw
printing format
book edition with stiff boards, sometimes cloth or leather outer layer
physiology
muscles become tense and stiff
horse movement
jump with legs stiff and back arched
materials
stiff paper material used for boxes and signs
body
make muscles tight and stiff
headwear
soft cap with a rounded crown and stiff bill
animal hair
stiff hair on animals or plants
animal
long, stiff hair growing on a cat's face
construction
stiff paste used to fix glass panes
cleaning tool
brush with stiff bristles for cleaning
cleaning
brush with stiff bristles for cleaning surfaces
appearance
having hair standing up in stiff points
clothes treatment
make clothes stiff using a special substance
movement
proud stiff pompous walk
cleaning tool
brush with stiff wire bristles for cleaning or scraping
physical property
quality of being solid or stiff
kitchen pad
brush with stiff bristles for heavy cleaning
Examples of stiff in a sentence
The cold made her neck stiff and sore. The fabric was too stiff to drape well. His stiff demeanor made interactions awkward. Her smile was stiff and uninviting. The atmosphere at the dinner was stiff and uncomfortable. The dough became stiff after refrigeration.
Her muscles felt stiff after the workout. The new regulations are quite stiff. He faced a stiff fine for the violation. The wind was stiff and unyielding. She faced a stiff penalty for her actions. The yacht was designed to be stiff even in strong winds. A stiff vessel is crucial for safe ocean navigation. The door was stiff shut and wouldn't budge. She was stiff tired after the long journey. He was bored stiff during the lecture. The kids were scared stiff by the thunderstorm. The hotel manager was wary of a stiff. He was labeled a stiff after skipping the bill. The company hired a stiff to handle the basic tasks. In the movie, the hero starts as a stiff but becomes extraordinary. The magician picked a stiff from the audience. He was the stiff in their elaborate prank. They discovered a stiff behind the warehouse. The mobster warned they'd find a stiff if they talked. Drawing a stiff can be risky in blackjack. A stiff often requires strategic thinking in the game. The inmate passed a stiff to his cellmate. A stiff was found hidden in the prison library. He was arrested for trying to cash a stiff. The stiff turned out to be a counterfeit check. The contractor was stiffed by the client after completing the work. She felt guilty for stiffing her friend on the loan.
View all translations of stiff
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:courbaturé, complètement, ...
- German:steif, völlig, ...
- Italian:rigido, completamente, ...
- Spanish:rígido, completamente, ...
- Portuguese:dolorido, completamente, ...
- Chinese:酸痛, 完全, ...
- Japanese:痛い, ぐっすり, ...
- Arabic:متيبس, تَمامًا, ...
- Hebrew:תָּפוּס, לְגַמְרֵי, ...
- Russian:затекший, крепко, ...
- Ukrainian:болісний, міцно, ...
- Hindi:अकड़ा हुआ, गहरी, ...
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