stiff
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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Facing stiff competition for market share and looking for relevance, Paze is turning to an unlikely group—the holdouts and technophobes who have so far shunned digital wallets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"A little bit sore and a little bit stiff but that is to be expected," he said of his condition.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The aortic valve controls blood leaving the heart, and aortic stenosis develops when this valve becomes thick, stiff, and narrow.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
The mattress was as stiff as cardboard and he was worried about his mom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Uncomfortable, Jeremy lowered his eyes to the picture Mr. Kravitz had been working on, a stiff drawing of some trees beside a pond.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
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Akbayan party-list congressman Chel Diokno called for stiffer penalties for those who allow minors access to firearms.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Taking questions after a speech that fall, he rejected a “shock and awe” framing from JPMorgan economist Michael Feroli urging even stiffer increases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
From a contrarian point of view, that suggests that U.S. bonds face stiffer headwinds over the next couple of months than U.S. stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 20, 2026
The disruptions come at a sensitive time for Europe, where EU storage levels remain below 29%, raising the prospect of stiffer competition for LNG cargoes with Asian buyers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
His gray, drooping face appeared to be made of something stiffer than ordinary skin; it rarely moved except for making the smile that was on it now.
From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau
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Some of the stiffest competition at the Masters happens in the shops.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
His penalty of life imprisonment without parole was the stiffest in New Zealand history.
From Barron's ● Feb. 8, 2026
As in other categories, the stiffest competition comes from ‘Severance’: Adam Scott, so compelling as the emotionally conflicted Mark S.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2025
Prosecutors now want Murdaugh to face the stiffest sentence possible since the plea agreement was breached and serve his federal sentence at the end of any state sentences.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 28, 2024
A Welch High School display of plant fossils found in coal mines seemed our stiffest competition.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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Let’s say they’re stiffs and they’re stupid people, and they say, ‘Well, we really have no choice.’
From Washington Post ● Dec. 6, 2022
Politico also reported that for his legal services, Kise will be paid by Trump, who regularly stiffs lawyers and business partners when it comes time to sign off on the bill.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2022
Iceland has achieved the holy grail for working stiffs: same pay for shorter hours.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 6, 2021
They’ve been replaced by working stiffs with piles of debt who, quite understandably, just want to make a quick buck.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2020
"Just between ourselves, Blore, and taking into account that we'll probably both be a couple of stiffs before another day is out, you did indulge in that spot of perjury, I suppose?"
From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
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These are the “private investors” who would get stiffed if Ivanpah were to shut down due to the project’s minimal asset salvage value and the sizable Energy Department loan standing first in the recovery line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025
DuBon had been stiffed on a painting job a few weeks earlier — an employer simply refused to pay — and started going to Casa Latina instead of Home Depot.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2024
Trump's closest ally and former personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was among the slate of stiffed lawyers.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2023
But when he asked the court for reimbursement, he got stiffed.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2023
The biggest event Suffolk had seen in years was a traveling sideshow that came through town on the railroad tracks, with a stiffed whale in a boxcar.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
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It also happened to be a gift to anyone stiffing Uncle Sam.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2022
But for every Ben and Jerry, there are countless Janes and Joes ticked off at their college roommate for stiffing them on a business loan.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2022
This Russian-German con artist, born Anna Sorokin, constructed such a convincing illusion out of snobbery and good taste that she succeeded in stiffing luxury hotels and bilking financial institutions for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2022
He is at once a social activist, a philanthropist and an executive keenly focused on serving shareholders while stiffing the government.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2022
“If you’re not getting commissions, Becker’s stiffing you.”
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
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Vocabulary lists containing stiff
Engineering - Introductory
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Civil Engineering
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Engineering - Middle School
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