stiffness

noun

Definition of stiffnessnext
as in indifference

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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 stiffness Torsional springs at the joints provide passive stiffness and naturally return the fingers toward a closed position, reducing the amount of active control and power required to hold a branch. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 Incorporating silk into denim significantly reduces the stiffness typically associated with rigid constructions—qualities that mills have long pursued through loose weaves, lyocell blends, enzyme washing and more. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 While passengers often remain seated for hours at a time, crew spend the majority of the flight on their feet, which decreases their chances of stiffness. — Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026 Rookie third-round pick Jakobe Thomas hasn’t practiced extensively in recent weeks with back stiffness. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 As long hours spent in the same position can contribute to poor posture, stiffness and other physical issues, experts say regular movement and stretching can help prevent joint pain and muscle weakness. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 After a couple of days of stiffness, the owner said Carl was back to normal. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Stiff-person syndrome’s most common symptoms include muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can lead to secondary effects, like unsteady gait, double vision, and slurred speech, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026 In December 2022, Dion announced she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness and painful spasms. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffness
  1. indifference
  2. unconcern
  3. deadness
  4. hardness
  5. aloofness
  6. coldness
Noun
  • The building at the excavation was previously thought to have served as a prison, due to the shoddiness of its construction and its indifference to aesthetics.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yet Jocelyne keeps hitting a wall of indifference from the military and authorities.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of indifference
Noun
  • The book’s occasional oases of self-examination are surrounded by dusty expanses of omission and unconcern.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
  • Whatever the reason, Maxwell’s strength and the shark’s apparent unconcern put one of Maxwell’s friends in danger.
    — Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Definition of unconcern
Noun
  • Did the baby’s livingness make Tomm’s deadness louder?
    — Maria Zorn, Longreads, 24 Feb. 2026
  • There is, in the end, a deadness to its clichés about writers and their subjects.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Definition of deadness
Noun
  • The differentiator between the three is the hardness of the brush.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The best rocks are hard, non-porous rocks with a non-gritty surface, ideally a seven on the Mohs’ hardness scale.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardness
Noun
  • What the rise of 'chalance' says about dating People have equated aloofness with coolness since long before the internet came around.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • My fear manifested as aloofness.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Definition of aloofness
Noun
  • The danger occurs if that ruthlessness veers into institutional coldness.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The music recalled the angst and coldness of Carpenter’s movie scores but with more robust arrangements, buttressed by Davies’ guitar.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of coldness

Browse Nearby Words

stiff-necked
stiffness
stiffs
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Cite this Entry

“Stiffness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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