Stiffness Definition & Meaning

stiffness
noun
  1. the physical property of being inflexible and hard to bend
  2. the property of moving with pain or difficulty; "he awoke with a painful stiffness in his neck"
  3. firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action; "a charming host without any touch of stiffness or pomposity"
  4. the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment)
  5. excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp"

Synonyms for stiffness

awkwardness noun

unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training the quality of an embarrassing situation

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
clumsiness noun

unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training the carriage of someone whose movements and posture are ungainly or

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
gracelessness noun

an unpleasant lack of grace in carriage or form or movement or expression the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed

♫ Rhymes
hardness noun

the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
harshness noun

the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions the quality of being unpleasant (harsh or rough or grating) to the

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
inclemency noun

weather unsuitable for outdoor activities excessive sternness; "severity of character

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
severity noun

used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather something hard to endure

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Stiffness" in song lyrics

See how stiffness is used in real songs:

  • "As I bring a little swing into your world of stiffness"
    Kid Rock — Roving Gangster (Rollin')
  • "Stay out of mine or get served with stiffness"
    Mr. Shadow — Who
  • "And known to stone the mic with the bonafide stiffness"
    Rascalz — Really Livin'

Words that rhyme with stiffness

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Usage tips for "stiffness"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "stiffness" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for stiffness to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with stiffness ↔ Synonyms for stiffness 🔬 Words containing stiffness

Frequently asked questions

What does stiffness mean?
the physical property of being inflexible and hard to bend the property of moving with pain or difficulty; "he awoke with a painful stiffness in his neck" firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action; "a charming host without any touch of stiffness or pomposity" the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment) excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp"
What part of speech is stiffness?
Stiffness is a noun.
How many definitions does stiffness have?
Stiffness has 5 definitions across 1 part of speech (noun).

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