1
as in close
lacking fresh air
the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
nothing stuffy about this science museum—it's all interactive and fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
those nursing home residents with a reputation for being chronically stuffy were usually the last to receive attention
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stuffy
Whether exploring a hot, humid environment or trying to get rest and relief on a plane or cruise where the air feels stuffy, a small handheld mini fan is a great asset.
—
Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
As spring carries on and summer approaches, our homes are already starting to get hot and stuffy.
—Nolan Lewis, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026
Here are the details that might be making your dining room look stuffy and uninviting, according to designers—avoid these six things.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth lived in a small, stuffy room with no window to the outside.
—Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
As spring carries on and summer approaches, our homes are already starting to get hot and stuffy.
—Nolan Lewis, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026
Here are the details that might be making your dining room look stuffy and uninviting, according to designers—avoid these six things.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth lived in a small, stuffy room with no window to the outside.
—Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stuffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy
Adjective
-
Then, style it with jeans to hit the town for drinks with your closest friends.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
-
Here, over a dozen or so hammocks hang from palm trees, swaying just over the water, close enough to dip your toes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Moreover, the subject is weedy and boring.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
In comic book canon, Clark's earlier years are actually pretty boring!—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For all the deserved talk about the Knicks’ dynamic offense, the defense has been far more stifling than their reputation suggests.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Her mother, who had a staid upbringing in California, came to New York in the early sixties looking for someplace more diverse and less stifling.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Eventually, after tiring of The Duchess & I, The Duchess & Me and other similar names, the filmmakers decided to go with My Duchess.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
Traveling with a heavy bag can make any journey feel longer and more tiring.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that fiery, vibrant red that fades after mere weeks?—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
The fiery collision was one of America’s deadliest drunken driving crashes on record.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Georgia will surely be ready and focused on its home floor following two consecutive losses, but Bucky Ball and its suffocating style from a fresh A&M team will be too much for the Bulldogs.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Darnold, Mike Macdonald and a suffocating defense have led the Seahawks to the big stage for the fourth time in franchise history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Soon, survey crews showed up, bulldozers were spotted along dusty roads, and the Army Corps of Engineers arranged private meetings.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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In the past, artificial greenery may have looked, well, fake—but today’s faux plants are a far cry from their dusty counterparts.—
Kate Donovan,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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