stiff
adjective
rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex.
stiffly
-
a word derived from
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.
In late August, on a trip to Kyrgyzstan for a regional summit, a widely shared clip showed him descending an airplane’s stairs slowly and stiffly, gripping the hand of his wife, Peng Liyuan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Unfortunately, these illustrious figures are badly written and stiffly played.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
But as she approached him, she said, he held out his arm stiffly to keep her back, and shook her hand instead.
From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2024
The passengers were packed in so tight she could scarcely move, sitting stiffly for days with her arms hugging her knees.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2023
Thwarted, he then embraced her stiffly before taking the baby in his arms under the watchful eye of his wife.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
