stiff-necked

adjective

ˈstif-ˈnekt How to pronounce stiff-necked (audio)
Definition of stiff-neckednext
1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude he was too stiff-necked to admit that "underlings" might have useful ideas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details her dinner parties are typically stiff-necked affairs, more to be endured than enjoyed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion obviously uninterested in hearing any excuses, the stiff-necked officer handed me my speeding ticket with a flourish

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
  1. arrogant
  2. formal
  3. stubborn
  4. correct
  5. adamant
  6. stiff
  7. nice
  8. solemn
Adjective
  • West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
    — David j. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
  • Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
    — Charles Moss, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Fireworks from formal rocket shows to impromptu street celebrations can create extremely unhealthy air quality, sometimes rivaling what comes from wildfires.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The impression was bolstered Friday afternoon when dozens of A-list celebrities were seen heading into the venue in formal wear, from Karlie Kloss and Hugh Grant to Jason Sudeikis and Chris Jones.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Colombia earned its passage into the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over stubborn Ghana.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Pickle Robot’s Physical AI unloaders tackle the dock door bottleneck, which is a stubborn pain point in inbound logistics, while AmbiStack handles the structured, high-volume stacking that feeds downstream operations.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • Jevremovic sued him for defamation in December but a judge threw out the case, citing that it hadn’t been filed in the correct jurisdiction.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • While waiting to go to court, Zaayer remained adamant that Shawna needed to go to prison but was also convinced that David — who worked at the nearby jail — was protecting his wife from receiving an adequate punishment, per The Guardian.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been adamant that there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the legislation, given the 60-vote filibuster threshold.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026
Definition of adamant
Adjective
  • How to Restore Absorbency to Towels To restore absorbency to stiff towels, Sokolowski recommends performing a deep clean.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
  • Vigorously whisk remaining 1 cup of cream with powdered sugar in a large bowl until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Definition of stiff
Adjective
  • Quince This matching set feels especially nice on warm nights, thanks to its naturally cooling bamboo viscose material.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Worth checking out The Nest Fragrances Reed Diffuser will keep your bathroom smelling nice with 21 lush scents, including lemon and mint, apricot tea, ginger and vanilla bean, ocean mist and sea salt, grapefruit and more.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Dozens of firefighters lined the street in a solemn salute to their fallen colleagues.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of solemn
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stiffly
stiff-necked
stiffness
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Cite this Entry

“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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