stiffness
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being firm and difficult to bend or move.
the physical property of being rigid or resistant to deformation.
Simple“The new leather boots were uncomfortable at first because of their stiffness.”
In context“The structural integrity of the bridge depends on the stiffness of the steel beams used in the primary support frame.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the general property; countable when referring to specific instances.
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a feeling of pain or difficulty moving your muscles, usually after exercise.
muscular tension or soreness resulting from physical exertion or remaining in one position for too long.
Simple“I woke up with a lot of stiffness in my legs after the long hike yesterday.”
In context“Patients often report joint stiffness in the morning, which typically subsides after a few minutes of light activity.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a way of behaving or speaking that is very formal and not relaxed.
a lack of ease or naturalness in social interaction or artistic expression.
Simple“There was a certain stiffness in his voice when he greeted his old rival.”
In context“The critic noted a peculiar stiffness in the actor's performance, suggesting he had not yet fully inhabited the character's emotional landscape.”
SynonymsAntonyms
From Middle English stiffenes, styffenesse, styfnesse; equivalent to stiff + -ness. Perhaps merging with Middle English stithnesse, stithnysse, from Old English stīþness (“stiffness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.