stiff

adjective

UK /stɪf/

Word Forms

comparative	stiffer
superlative	stiffest

1
if you are stiff, or if a part of your body is stiff, you feel pain in your muscles and cannot move easily
Her fingers were getting stiff.
feel stiff:
My leg muscles always feel stiff after a long bike ride.
stiff neck/back etc:
She was suffering from a stiff neck.
Synonyms and related words
Physically painful and describing pain
achy
acute
agonising
Synonyms and related words
In pain
agonised
agonized
anguished
2
if something that should move easily is stiff, it does not move or operate as easily as you expect
The drawer was rather stiff, so I pulled at it.
The hinges of the box were stiff with lack of use.
Synonyms and related words
Not moving
still
static
stationary
3
firm and difficult to bend
a stiff piece of card
a small stiff brush
stiff as a board (=extremely stiff):
The washing on the line was frozen and stiff as a board.
Synonyms and related words
Solid, stiff or hard
solid
stiff
hard
4
a mixture that is stiff is very thick and keeps its shape when you stop mixing it
stiff paste/dough:
Beat in the icing sugar to make a stiff paste.
beat/whisk something until stiff:
Whisk the egg whites until stiff.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe properties of substances
absorbent
astringent
harsh
5
formal and controlled in a way that is not friendly or relaxed
Her tone was a little stiff, I thought.
stiff with:
His face was stiff with disapproval.
stiff and awkward:
He looked stiff and awkward in his new suit.
Synonyms and related words
Unfriendly
unfriendly
cold
hostile
6
more severe or difficult than usual
stiff competition:
Jarvis is up against some stiff competition in this race.
stiff opposition/resistance:
The government forces met with stiff resistance in the north.
stiff fine/penalty/sentence:
Those caught breaking the new law face stiff fines.
Synonyms and related words
Serious, severe and extreme
serious
severe
extreme
7
a stiff drink contains a lot of alcohol
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe drinks
alcoholic
black
carbonated

phrases

stiff wind/breeze

stiff

adjective

US /stɪf/

Word Forms

comparative	stiffer
superlative	stiffest

1
if you are stiff, or if a part of your body is stiff, you feel pain in your muscles and cannot move easily
Her fingers were getting stiff.
feel stiff:
My leg muscles always feel stiff after a long bike ride.
stiff neck/back etc.:
She was suffering from a stiff neck.
Synonyms and related words
Physically painful and describing pain
achy
acute
agonising
Synonyms and related words
In pain
agonised
agonized
anguished
2
firm and difficult to bend
a stiff piece of cardboard
a small stiff brush
stiff as a board (=extremely stiff):
The wet towel I had left hanging outside was frozen and stiff as a board.
Synonyms and related words
Solid, stiff or hard
solid
stiff
hard
3
if something that should move easily is stiff, it does not move or operate as easily as you expect
The drawer was very stiff, so I pulled on it.
The hinges of the box were stiff from lack of use.
Synonyms and related words
Not moving
still
static
stationary
4
a mixture that is stiff is very thick and keeps its shape when you stop mixing it
stiff paste/dough:
Beat in the sugar to make a stiff paste.
beat/whisk something until stiff:
Beat the egg whites until stiff.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe properties of substances
absorbent
astringent
harsh
5
formal and controlled in a way that is not friendly or relaxed
Her tone was a little stiff, I thought.
stiff with:
His face was stiff with disapproval.
stiff and awkward:
He looked stiff and awkward in his new suit.
Synonyms and related words
Unfriendly
unfriendly
cold
hostile
6
more severe or difficult than usual
stiff fine/penalty/sentence:
Those caught breaking the new law face some pretty stiff fines.
stiff competition:
Greene is up against some stiff competition in this race.
stiff opposition/resistance:
The government forces met with stiff resistance in the north.
Synonyms and related words
Serious, severe and extreme
serious
severe
extreme
7
a stiff drink contains a lot of alcohol
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe drinks
alcoholic
black
carbonated

phrases

stiff wind/breeze

stiff

adverb

UK /stɪf/

stiff

adverb

US /stɪf/

stiff

noun countable very informal

UK /stɪf/

Word Forms

singular	stiff
plural	stiffs

1
the body of a dead person. This is an offensive way to talk about someone who is dead.
Synonyms and related words
A dead body or dead person or people
body
corpse
remains

stiff

noun countable very informal

US /stɪf/

Word Forms

singular	stiff
plural	stiffs

1
the body of a dead person. This is an offensive way to talk about someone who is dead.
Synonyms and related words
A dead body or dead person or people
body
corpse
remains

stiff

verb transitive Americaninformal

UK /stɪf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stiff
he/she/it	stiffs
present participle	stiffing
past tense	stiffed
past participle	stiffed

1
to not pay someone money that you owe them, especially by not leaving any money as a tip in a restaurant
Synonyms and related words
Overcharging and underpaying money
soak
bleed
gouge

stiff

verb transitive Americaninformal

US /stɪf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stiff
he/she/it	stiffs
present participle	stiffing
past tense	stiffed
past participle	stiffed

1
to not pay someone money that you owe them, especially by not leaving any money as a tip in a restaurant
Synonyms and related words
Overcharging and underpaying money
soak
bleed
shortchange

stiff

stiff

stiff

bored/scared/worried stiff

stiff

bored/scared/worried stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff ​‌‌

stiff ​‌‌

stiff

bored​/​scared​/​worried stiff

stiff

bored​/​scared​/​worried stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

stiff

bored/scared/worried stiff

bored/scared/worried stiff