Dora's sitting up on the seat as prim as you please. She always looks as if she'd just been starched and ironed.
Source: tatoeba (7917486)
Starched
Synonyms for "starched" (30 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: buckram, crisp, firm, formal, gel.
- Sentence evidence is available for starched, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "starched".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "starched"
Keep "starched" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "starched" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "starched", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "starched" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entrieschemical treatmentculinary techniquefabric finishingfabric propertyfood preparationmannerismsocial normtextile processingtextile quality
More specific
11 entriesceremonial protocolcollar starchingcornstarch thickeningformal dresspotato starch thickeningrigid etiquetteshirt starchingstarched cottonstarched ginghamstarched linenstarched muslin
Collocations
8 entriesstarched appearancestarched collarstarched cuffsstarched fabricstarched finishstarched linenstarched linensstarched shirt
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
Karl Lagerfeld was an original, and was recognizable chiefly because of his white hair, black eyeglasses, starched collars and black, fingerless gloves.
Source: tatoeba (8102240)
Ninety-seven squirming little orphans must be scrubbed and combed and buttoned into freshly starched ginghams; and all ninety-seven reminded of their manners, and told to say, “Yes, sir,” “No, sir,” whenever a Trustee spoke.
Source: tatoeba (11902496)
I recall the height of comfort attained by the green-cushioned "first" with starched white antimacassars and a pretentious grey floor mat on which it seemed a sacrilege to stand, as it was embellished with the North Western conception of Britannia, complete with trident.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "starched"?
Closest matches include buckram, crisp, firm, formal, gel.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "starched"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.