Shoes are stiff when they are new.
Source: tatoeba (18103)
Stiff
/stɪf/
Synonyms for "stiff" (689 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (138)
a bit muchabandonedabusiveadamantadamantineaffectedafflictivealcoholicall thumbsaloofarabarduousaridartificialashesaustereawkwardbalkerbalky horsebarren
Show 96 more words
beach bumbeachcomberbeggarbeggarly fellowblahblankblighterblindblind drunkbloodlessblottoblue collar workerblue-collar workerblunderheadedblunderingbobodyboldbombasticbonesboorishboundlessbowery bumbreadwinnerbriskbrittlebuckrambudmashbumbumblingbummerbunglingbutterfingeredcadavercaitiffcarcasscarelesscarrioncartilaginouscast-ironcasualcasual laborerceremonialceremoniouschallengingcharacterlesscheapskatechewychillyclayclownishclumsyclumsy-fistedcohesivecoldcolorlesscommon laborercompactcoolcoriaceouscorpsecorpus delicticostlycourtlycrampedcrockcrowbaitcruelcumbersomecumbrousday laborerdeaddead as muttondead bodydead mandead persondeardear-boughtdeceaseddecedentdecorousdensedepartedderelictdetermineddevildifficultdismaldistantdistressingdogdoggeddogiedourdraggydrastic
Adjective(9 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (207)
Adjective(8 words)
drearisomedrearydrifterdrunkdrunkarddrydry bonesdryasdustdulldurabledustdustyeartheffeteegregiouselephantineembalmed corpseemployeeemptyenergetic
Show 159 more words
enormousetiolatedexaggeratedexcessiveexcruciatingexhaustingexorbitantexpensiveextravagantextremefabulousfactory workerfadefancyfatiguingfibrousfingers all thumbsfirmfit for seaflatflintyflunkyfood for wormsforcedforcefulformalfree lancefree-lancerfreshfrigidfull-time workerfumblingfundamentalistgamingaminegarrongauchegawkishgawkygiganticgluttonousgoatgone to seedgood-for-naughtgood-for-nothinggracelessgrimgristlyguindegustyguttersnipehackhadhaltingham-fistedham-handedhandhardhard corehard-corehardenedhardyharrowingharshhaughtyheavyheavy handedheavy-handedhelplesshideboundhighhigh-pricedho humho-humhobohollowhomeless waifhowlinghulkinghulkyhuman wreckhurtfulhyperbolichypertrophiedidlerimmoderateimmovableimmutableimpersonalimplacableimpliablein buckraminaneincontinentindomitableindustrial workerinelasticinelegantinexcitableinexorableinflexibleinkhorninordinateinsipidintemperateintenseintoxicatedintransigentironironboundironcladironhandedirreconcilablejadejejunejobberjobholderjugheadlaboredlaborerlaboring manlaboriouslandloperlastinglate lamentedlatinatelazzaroneleadenleatherlikeleatheryleft handedleft-handleft-handedlifelessloaferloselloutishlow spiritedlow-spiritedlowlifelubberlylumberinglumpishluxuriousmaladroitmanneredmauvais sujetmean wretchmenialmercilessmigrantmisermoilermoneymonstrousmortal remainsmuckermudlarkmummification
Noun(11 words)
dupedutch stijfformalhard liquorhardenhigh‑proof liquorimmobileinflexibleless fluidmaterial deformabilitymore rigid
Adjective(6 words)
Related words (344)
mummymuscle boundmuscle-boundnagnavvyniggardno goodno-goodnot affordableoafishobdurateobstinateof great costoffice temporaryofficialon the downgradeorganic remainsorthodoxoutout cold
Show 244 more words
out of boundsout of conditionout of shapeout of sightout of this worldout of trainingoutrageousoverbigovercomeoverdevelopedovergreatovergrownoverlargeovermuchoverpoweringoverweeningoverwhelmingpainfulpalepallidparalyzedparochialpassed outpauvre diablepedanticpedestrianpetrifiedpikerpilgarlicploddingplugpointlesspokerlikepokypompousponderouspoor creaturepoor devilpotentpowerfulpremiumpriceyprimprocrusteanproletarianprudishpunishingpunitivepuristpuristicpuritanpuritanicpuritanicalragamuffinragmanragpickerramrodlikerecalcitrantrelentlessrelicsreliquiaeremainsrenitentreservedresistantresoluteresolvedrichrigidrigoristrigoristicrigorousroarerrock-ribbedrockboundrodlikerogueropyrosinanteroughrounderroustaboutrun to seedrustysad casesad sacksalaried workerscalawagsea-kindlyseaworthysedateself-consciousself-employed personservantsesquipedalianseveresinewyskeletonski bumskid-row bumskinskinflintslippingsloppyslowsluggishsmartsnobbishsnootysnugsoftsolemnsolidsolidifiedspankingspiritlessstaidstandoffishstarchstarchedstarchystarkstaunchsteadysteelysteepsterilesternstiff as buckramstiffenedstiltedstodgystone coldstone-coldstone-deadstonedstraightlacedstrainedstraitlacedstraystreet arabstreet urchinstringystrongstubbornstuffysumptuoussundownersuperficialsurf bumswagmanswagsmantastelesstatterdemaliontauttedioustemporarytenacioustendertenement of claytennis bumtensethe deadthe deceasedthe defunctthe departedthe loved onethicktighttightwadtiringtoilertoilsometoo muchtoptormentingtorturoustoughtough as leathertramptruantturgidturnpikerunaffectedunalterableunbearableunbendingunbridledunchangeableuncompromisingunconscionableuncouthunder the tableundueunflexibleunfriendlyungainlyungivingungracefulunhandyunlivelyunmovedunnaturalunpayableunreasonableunrelaxedunrelentingunrestraineduntiringunwieldyunyieldinguphilluptighturchinvagvagabondvagrantvapidvaurienvigorousvirgateviscidviscouswage earnerwage slavewageworkerwaifwaifs and strayswastrelwaterproofwatertightweatherlywhistlerwirywoodenworkerworkgirlworkhandworking girlworkingmanworkingwomanworkmanworthless fellowwretch
Adjective(52 words)
myotonicpie-eyedpissedpixilatedplasteredpotentpowdered wigprimmerprimmestprivate club etiquetterigidrigid actionrigid frameworkrigid materialrigid protocolrigid stancerigid standardsrigid structurerigid systemrigid tasks
Show 32 more words
rigid templaterobotic movementsloppedsloshedsmashedsoakedsousedsozzledspasticsquiffystarchierstarchieststarchysteadfaststeadystifferstiffishstrongtensesttightunanimatedunbendableunfalteringunpliable materialunshakableunwaveringwetwirierwiriestwooden bookshelfwoodenestwoodier
Noun(15 words)
Adjective(12 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: cadaver, corpse, a bit much, abandoned, abusive.
- Sentence evidence is available for stiff, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
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 "stiff".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "stiff"
Keep "stiff" 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 "stiff" 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 "stiff", 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 "stiff" 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
18 entriesadult malebehavioral traitbeveragebodily reactionbodydead bodydelinquencydrinkfinancial wrongdoingindividualmanmaterial propertymaterial property changepersonphysical changephysical property
Showing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
Collocations
11 entriesstiff breezestiff competitionstiff drinkstiff fabricstiff jointsstiff musclesstiff neckstiff penaltiesstiff penaltystiff resistancestiff upper lip
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
8 entriessimilar
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
Translations
63 translations across 34 languages.
Assamese
2 entries- ঠেৰেঙা adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- থিৰ adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Bulgarian
2 entries- корав adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- нееластичен adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Catalan
1 entries- rígid adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Chinese Mandarin
4 entries- 不屈 adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- 不折 adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- 僵硬 adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- 硬 adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Dutch
3 entries- rigide adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- stijf adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- stug adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Finnish
1 entries- jäykkä adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
French
2 entries- raide adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- rigide adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Galician
2 entries- irto adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- rixo adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
German
2 entries- starr adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- steif adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Hungarian
1 entries- merev adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Italian
1 entries- rigido adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Japanese
1 entries- 硬い adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Khmer
1 entries- រឹង adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Korean
1 entries- 딱딱한 adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Latin
2 entries- rigidus adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- rigēns adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Latvian
3 entries- stingrs adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- stings adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- stīvs adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Lower Sorbian
1 entries- pšosty adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Nepali
3 entries- कठोर adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- कडा adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- दह्रो adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Norman
1 entries- rigide adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- stiv adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- stiv adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- stiew adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Polish
1 entries- sztywny adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Portuguese
4 entries- duro adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- firme adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- hirto adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- inflexível adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Russian
3 entries- жёсткий adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- неги́бкий adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- твёрдый adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- rag adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Sicilian
2 entries- duru adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- pisanti adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Spanish
4 entries- duro adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- inflexible adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- rígido adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- tieso adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Swedish
2 entries- oböjlig adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- stel adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Thai
1 entries- แข็ง adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Unami
2 entries- chinkale adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- chinkalsi adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Vietnamese
1 entries- cứng adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Volapük
1 entries- stifik adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Welsh
2 entries- anhyblyg adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
- rhyn adj (of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible)
Sample sentences
41 total sentences available.
He was stiff about it.
Source: tatoeba (42915)
Throughout the five years of painful cancer treatments, he managed to keep a stiff upper lip.
Source: tatoeba (72492)
My shoulders feel stiff.
Source: tatoeba (239263)
Showing 4 of 41 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "stiff"?
Closest matches include cadaver, corpse, a bit much, abandoned, abusive.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "stiff"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.