stiffnessnoun [ U ]
uk/ˈstɪf.nəs/us/ˈstɪf.nəs/stiffness noun [ U ] (NOT RELAXED)
the quality of being very formal and not relaxed:
Her initial stiffness began to wear off as we got to know her.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Manners & levels of formality
- buttoned-down
- ceremonial
- ceremonious
- ceremony
- decency
- formal
- formally
- genteel
- gentility
- grace
- ground rules
- impropriety
- not the done thing idiom
- propriety
- pukka
- refinement
- solemnity
- stand on ceremony idiom
- stiff
- valediction
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stiffness noun [ U ] (FIRM)
C2 the quality of being firm, hard, or unable to bend:
the stiffness of her muscles
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hard and firm
- (as) stiff/straight as a ramrod idiom
- adamantine
- cast iron
- congeal
- crisp
- crispy
- crunchy
- fossilized
- hard
- harden
- horny
- ossification
- ossify
- petrified
- ramrod
- solid
- stiff
- stiffly
- temper
- unyielding
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stiffness noun [ U ] (SEVERE)
the quality of being very severe, strong, or difficult:
Everyone was surprised at the stiffness of the sentence/punishment/penalty/sanctions.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Serious and severe
- acute
- acutely
- chronic
- critical
- critically
- desperate
- dire
- egregious
- gravity
- grievous
- heaviness
- heavy
- mortal
- serious
- seriously
- severely
- severity
- swingeing
- terminal
- utmost
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