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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
Adjective
-
The rabbi is ornery, arrogant, sometimes cruel.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Upstairs at Place, things are a little more formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Motsepe’s name as a future ANC leader often appears in fragments — in business conversations, in official corridors, in the soft intelligence that travels ahead of formal politics.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Across the Rockies and beyond, many of our favorite mountains were haunted by unseasonably warm spikes and stubborn weather patterns that shut out snow for weeks on end.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For stubborn blockages, a plumber’s snake can help break things loose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The correct spreadsheet was never found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Warsh has been adamant about wanting to ease monetary policy.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But Dugalić was adamant on a normal-length college career.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The service Plentiful, youthful, and uniformly charming (though the stiff, ice-blue staff uniforms are oddly unflattering).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Mix water with dish soap (or a little vinegar) and scrub with a broom or stiff brush.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
My room had a large bathtub right by the window, a spacious walk-in shower, and Niven Morgan bath products (a nice touch, given that the brand is from Dallas).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The company flew Tony to Cupertino and put him up in a nice hotel with a fruit basket waiting in the room.—
Bill Gurley,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This visual story captures solemn moments of faith, tradition and community as worshippers publicly observed one of Christianity’s most sacred Holy Week rituals.—
Al Diaz,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The solemn liturgical service included the Lord’s Passion from the Gospel of John.—
Holly Andres,
Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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