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

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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

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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

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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 stiff-necked But some Jews stubbornly refused to assimilate and continued the sometimes strange and stiff-necked traditions of our people. — TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
  1. arrogant
  2. formal
  3. stubborn
  4. correct
  5. adamant
  6. stiff
  7. nice
  8. solemn
Adjective
  • Wright was known to be arrogant, and his self-importance is on full display here.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Georg, an unemployed auto mechanic, comes across as an arrogant jock.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • That year, after Israeli officials castigated Qatar for allegedly financing Hamas, the Qataris began demanding formal documentation of an arrangement the two governments had agreed was meant to provide relief to citizens of the beleaguered enclave.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • With some formal firefighter training and background checks, volunteers commit to following fire officials’ orders, helping residents evacuate and putting out spot fires, while leaving the ferocious front-line flames to the professionals.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • The Federal Reserve is also hiking rates again to rein in stubborn inflation.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Pair that with five years of stubborn inflation, and workers are losing even more ground.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • All signs were pointing to a simple typographical error, where Nature had printed 1841 instead of the correct year of 1848.
    — Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Ashby though, wearing the correct uniform, got Ohtani to strike out on three pitches, and Mookie Betts to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • Schnell was adamant that the film crew couldn’t provide any help to him.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Lander was adamant that rezonings didn’t have to go the way of Williamsburg.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of adamant
Adjective
  • Carl lowers his head like a hitter hit by a pitch, then rouses himself and breaks into a stiff, elderly trot, shooting a salute over at whoever’s inside the tilted little guard hut.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • That’s especially in a time of dwindling enrollment, soaring tuition and stiff competition between schools.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiff
Adjective
  • The Playoff including home games for the highest seeded teams is a nice touch that many personalities seemed to agree was a positive.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Verdict Sporting a more polished look than its contemporaries, Panasonic’s Japanese microwave is a nice gateway to nudge your kitchen toward more upscale design.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • The spirituality throughout is imbued with a solemn reverence more Catholic than Baptist.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This production, solemn about our obligations to one another but committed to providing a good night out at the theater, is neither.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of solemn

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 21 Oct. 2026.

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