STICK-IN-THE-MUD Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

stick-in-the-mud

noun

ˈstik-ən-t͟hə-ˌməd

Definition of stick-in-the-mud

as in conservative

a person with old-fashioned ideas the committee is dominated by old stick-in-the-muds who have little interest in bringing new ideas to the table

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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 stick-in-the-mud One only has to think about the British fight against Nazism to be reminded that it was made of imperialists, constitutionalists, stick-in-the-mud aristocrats, and the socialists who first helped put Winston Churchill into power and then five years later helped push him out again. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 But opposing him is Stagg, a Scottish, stick-in-the-mud academic (which is saying a lot by most weather men’s personality standards), who insists on making the team’s joint recommendation exclusively using the current observational data available to Allied forces. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 May 2026 Bostwick starred as the naive stick-in-the-mud and fiancé of Janice, Brad. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025 David Corenswet plays, quite literally, a stick-in-the-mud character. — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stick-in-the-mud

Noun

And today’s conservatives are increasingly questioning that narrative.

— Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026
Calvert, who appeared this week at a rally in Murrieta alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), labels himself a consistent conservative.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of conservative

Noun

The ceremony also marked the return of Japanese industry veteran Takeo Hisamatsu as festival director, following the departure of former chairman Hiroyasu Ando earlier this year.

— Gavin Blair, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026
The Athens, Georgia, jam-band veterans will close out 2026 with two Charlotte performances, including a New Year’s Eve concert.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of veteran

Noun

The scientists concluded Gerrothorax maritimus lived in the ocean because the fossils were found in deep sea sediments and were nearly complete skeletons.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Like fossils of prehistoric life, the evidence of all these past relationships lurked in the debris of our Connecticut household.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of fossil

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“Stick-in-the-mud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stick-in-the-mud. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of stick-in-the-mud

noun

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