01 a. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.
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1.
Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.“[They] rising on stiff pennons, tower The mid aerial sky.” — Milton.
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2.
Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated; neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.
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3.
Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff gale or breeze.
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4.
Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.“It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.” — Jer. Taylor.“A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause, Stiff to defend their hospitable laws.” — Dryden.
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5.
Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected; starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.“The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved.” — Addison.
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6.
Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear.[Obs. or Colloq.]
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7.
Bearing a press of canvas without careening much; as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to crank.(Naut.)
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8.
Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff charge; a stiff price.[Slang]
Phrases & compounds
Stiff neck —
a condition of the neck such that the head can not be moved without difficulty and pain.
Syn.
Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected; starched; rigorous.