stiff-necked
adjective
ˈstif-ˈnekt 
1
: haughty, stubborn
2
: formal, stilted
Synonyms
- arrogant
- assumptive
- bumptious
- cavalier
- chesty
- haughty
- high-and-mighty
- high-handed
- high-hat
- highfalutin
- hifalutin
- huffish
- huffy
- imperious
- important
- lofty
- lordly
- masterful
- overweening
- peremptory
- pompous
- presuming
- presumptuous
- pretentious
- self-asserting
- self-assertive
- sniffy
- supercilious
- superior
- toplofty
- toploftical
- uppish
- uppity
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
stiff-necked
adjective
1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude he was too stiff-necked to admit that "underlings" might have useful ideas Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- arrogant
- cavalier
- haughty
- superior
- supercilious
- domineering
- bumptious
- uppity
- pompous
- dominant
- imperious
- sniffy
- smug
- huffy
- important
- pretentious
- authoritarian
- uppish
- presumptuous
- high-and-mighty
- chesty
- high-handed
- assumptive
- self-assertive
- masterful
- lordly
- proud
- impudent
- overweening
- presuming
- peremptory
- bossy
- toplofty
- huffish
- dominating
- condescending
- self-asserting
- patronizing
- hifalutin
- toploftical
- snooty
- snobbish
- highfalutin
- boastful
- disdainful
- conceited
- cocky
- high-hat
- lofty
- swaggering
- snobby
- egocentric
- vainglorious
- magisterial
- prideful
- narcissistic
- saucy
- hubristic
- egotistic
- vain
- impertinent
- complacent
- pontificating
- pontifical
- egotistical
- uninhibited
- bombastic
- braggart
- egoistic
- self-conceited
- self-centered
- self-satisfied
- blusterous
- blustery
- self-complacent
- stuck-up
- egoistical
- extroverted
- bragging
- brash
- self-pleased
- self-flattering
- unreserved
- self-affected
- immodest
- braggy
- self-loving
- extraverted
- self-applauding
- orgulous
- self-promoting
- forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- timid
- lowly
- modest
- sheepish
- bashful
- subdued
- diffident
- unpretentious
- meek
- introverted
- demure
- acquiescent
- shy
- passive
- deferential
- shrinking
- mousy
- submissive
- unassertive
- compliant
- unarrogant
- self-doubting
- unaggressive
- unassuming
- cringing
- self-critical
- unobtrusive
- quiet
- mousey
- yielding
- overmodest
- cowering
- reserved
- retiring
2
as in stiff
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details her dinner parties are typically stiff-necked affairs, more to be endured than enjoyed Synonyms & Similar Words
- stiff
- decorous
- punctilious
- formal
- correct
- solemn
- ceremonious
- civil
- starchy
- nice
- stilted
- polite
- proper
- chivalrous
- polished
- gallant
- sober
- courteous
- refined
- stately
- genteel
- courtly
- red-carpet
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easygoing
- informal
- casual
- indecorous
- improper
- unmannerly
- unceremonious
- discourteous
- laid-back
- rude
- impolite
3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion obviously uninterested in hearing any excuses, the stiff-necked officer handed me my speeding ticket with a flourish Synonyms & Similar Words
- stubborn
- adamant
- hardened
- obstinate
- steadfast
- intransigent
- obdurate
- wilful
- headstrong
- unbending
- implacable
- mulish
- hardheaded
- pigheaded
- inflexible
- pertinacious
- willful
- bullheaded
- uncompromising
- unyielding
- opinionated
- immovable
- self-willed
- ossified
- obsessive
- unrelenting
- perverse
- dogged
- persistent
- hard
- adamantine
- self-opinionated
- hard-nosed
- determined
- pat
- strict
- inconvincible
- relentless
- hidebound
- deaf to reason
- defiant
- tenacious
- rigid
- disobedient
- stern
- wrongheaded
- wayward
- iron
- cantankerous
- recalcitrant
- inexorable
- contumacious
- insubordinate
- severe
- unflinching
- resolved
- stouthearted
- intractable
- uncooperative
- mutinous
- refractory
- indomitable
- bloody-minded
- unruly
- anal-retentive
- single-minded
- unmanageable
- narrow-minded
- unregenerate
- firm
- invincible
- hard-line
- unconquerable
- ungovernable
- inveterate
- contrary
- cussed
- hard-shelled
- froward
- insurgent
- hell-bent
- exacting
- demanding
- hard-shell
- confirmed
- set
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obedient
- acquiescent
- pliable
- pliant
- compliant
- agreeable
- amenable
- docile
- flexible
- submissive
- complying
- tractable
- yielding
- receptive
- willing
- responsive
- accepting
- placable
- relenting
- reasonable
- subservient
- temperate
- slavish
- persuadable
- governable
- manageable