STUFFY Synonyms: 266 Similar and Opposite Words

stuffy

adjective

ˈstə-fē

Definition of stuffy

as in close

lacking fresh air the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in boring

causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest nothing stuffy about this science museum—it's all interactive and fun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed those nursing home residents with a reputation for being chronically stuffy were usually the last to receive attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 stuffy The timeless square neck is flattering, the tank top straps allow for plenty of air flow on stuffy summer days, and the cropped silhouette ensures a comfortable fit for petite shoppers. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026 The service The service is exceptional and personal without being stuffy. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 The fourth launch in the brand's growing collection, inspired by beloved plush stuffy Joelle the Bigfoot, transforms her love of adventure into a wondrous scent for likeminded explorers. — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 And the notoriously unbreathable material, combined with the stuffy weather, created unsettling clouds of pedal condensation on the shoes’ uppers. — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stuffy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy

Adjective

Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Ashley Smith is the manager of player engagement for the NFL, and the siblings are close.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026

Definition of close

Adjective

Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.

— Somdutta Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.

— Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.

— Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.

— Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026

Definition of stifling

Adjective

The 90 minutes or more will be highly physical and tiring, and only one will remain standing at the end.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of tiring

Adjective

The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.

— Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of suffocating

Adjective

All 182 guest rooms were given a fresh coat of dusty rose paint, new custom carpet, furniture and upgraded bathrooms.

— Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
At the same time, her eyes were free of the ultimate Millennial marker, winged liner, and colored with a melting pot of brown, bronze and dusty gray shadow, visible in her waterline, too.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026

Definition of dusty

Browse Nearby Words

stuffs

stuffy

stumble

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of stuffy

adjective

Example Sentences

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