stiffness

[ stif-nis ]

/ ˈstɪf nɪs /

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See synonyms for stiffness on Thesaurus.com

noun

the state or condition of being rigid or firm:The bicycle’s frame is well balanced, with excellent stiffness throughout.Conventional wisdom has been that longer knife blades need more carbon for stiffness.

the state or condition of being unable to move easily:Proper stretching will help you avoid joint stiffness and muscle tension after a workout.

lack of ease or grace:The teacher offers advice on how to get over the stiffness or outright paralysis that can creep in when people make writing into a “big deal.”

the state or condition of being rigidly formal:There was a stiffness to the encounter, but the ambassador was not unfriendly.If representatives meet only under official circumstances, a degree of stiffness is introduced which does not allow people to exchange ideas as freely.

the state or condition of being excessive, difficult, or severe:The council expressed concern about the stiffness of the fines and sentences for such minor infractions.

(of soil) the state or condition of being compact; density: A variety of sediment samples are needed in order to recover different types of sediment, mainly based on their stiffness.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stiffness

stiff + -ness

OTHER WORDS FROM stiffness

o·ver·stiff·ness, nounsem·i·stiff·ness, nounun·stiff·ness, noun

Words nearby stiffness

stiff-arm, stiff as a board, stiffen, stiffener, stiff-necked, stiffness, stiff upper lip, stiffy, stifle, stifled, stifling

How to use stiffness in a sentence

Byrnes and his collaborators have found that the thin patagium is rich in muscles, and some parts are stiffer than others.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops|Yao-Hua Law|November 20, 2020|Science News
Maps is another place where Apple’s got some pretty stiff competition from Google.
macOS Big Sur is now available|Brian Heater|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
Colman keeps a stiff upper lip, even as the role begins to shift out from under her.
The Charles and Diana saga weighs heavy on ‘The Crown,’ but Gillian Anderson’s Thatcher is a triumph|Hank Stuever|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
By this April, SoftBank admitted that it was on track to take stiff losses from its Vision Fund portfolio, which, when combined with other investing losses, pushed the company into a rare loss for the year.
How SoftBank’s Vision Fund turned losses into gold this summer|Alex Wilhelm|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch

There’s an old Polish woman, for instance, whose stiff, territorial energy I can feel whenever I show up to Gaston Park the day after a rain.
Mushroom Hunting at the End of the World|Danny Palumbo|November 12, 2020|Eater
Early signs are often movement-related, including tremors, stiffness, and problems with walking.
The Burden Robin Williams Carried: Diagnosed With Parkinson’s and Depression|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other auras include neck stiffness, lack of focus, and nausea.
How to Destroy Your Headaches|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Your miner friends notice the stiffness of your walk and chaff you about it.
Thatcher's Economic Legacy|Megan McArdle|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some senior Whitehall sources believed that there was an early “stiffness” between the Queen and Mrs. Thatcher.
Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth’s Complicated Relationship|Andrew Marr|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But Norris is so inviolably the real thing that even his mind-boggling thespian stiffness works as a badge of pride.
Chuck Norris Turns 70|Sean Macaulay|December 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Madame Ratignolle begged Robert to accompany her to the house; she complained of cramp in her limbs and stiffness of the joints.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Here was none of the old-time stiffness of Capheaton, and there was a conspicuous absence of dead masters and their pupils.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
"He was not in my service," said Nigel, with a sudden, very English stiffness that was almost like haughtiness.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
As Nejdi, too, was showing signs of stiffness, Malcolm mounted one of the spare animals and led the Arab.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Jim led the horses to a little stream of water as the girls stamped the stiffness out of their cramped legs.
The Adventure Girls at K Bar O|Clair Blank