Meaning & use
stiffly
Last updated
In a rigid, unbending, or awkwardly formal manner.
See it in a sentence
He nodded stiffly and left the room without another word.
Her knee, still healing, moved stiffly as she climbed the stairs.
A note on using this word
Stiffly can describe both physical rigidity, as in sore muscles, and emotional coldness in someone's manner or tone.
Words with a similar meaning
rigidlyformally
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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