STARCHY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

starchy

adjective

ˈstär-chē

Definition of starchy

as in formal

marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details a starchy and demanding teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of starchy Serve over mashed potatoes for a starchy base that’ll soak up any remaining sauce. — Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026 Drain, but — and this is vital — reserve the salty, starchy pasta cooking water. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 That book collection or set of old scrapbooks might be serving as a starchy food source and a humid environment for the bug. — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for starchy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for starchy

Adjective

His death comes in the third week of IDHW’s formal monitoring of the 2026-27 flu season.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
OutKick had attended all 13 formal press conferences during the first three Finals games without being called on.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of formal

Adjective

And if at times the movie comes off as a bit decorous and stiff, the actors, particularly Edgar-Jones and Creed-Miles, do their best to keep the proceedings whirring.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
What was pell-mell and excited becomes thoughtful and decorous.

— Louis Menand, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of decorous

Adjective

When the replacement arrived, the new cotton felt stiff, less breathable, and one side seam veered off at an angle, pulling the fabric awkwardly around my body.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
In the hills surrounding Taiz, the government forces are trying to repel the Houthis but face stiff resistance, especially east of the city.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of stiff

Adjective

It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.

— Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026

Definition of ceremonious

Adjective

Any function whose work can be pointed at a proper model of its underlying business, instead of at a general-purpose language model, is starting to compound the same way Anthropic’s engineering did a year ago.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.

— Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of proper

Adjective

Issagholyan built out a 24-session plan to course-correct, involving twice weekly visits in which I would be chiropractically adjusted, my jaw cold-lasered to promote cellular regeneration and my back muscles stimulated by electrodes.

— Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Google is correct that Personal Intelligence is opt-in, but the company uses various prompts and pop-ups to entice users to turn it on without fully explaining the consequences.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026