stiffish
Definition
Adjective: "stiffish" describes something that is somewhat stiff or fairly stiff, but not extremely so. It indicates a moderate degree of stiffness.
Usage Examples
- (The cardboard was somewhat stiff, not completely flexible.)
- (His legs were moderately stiff, not severely sore.)
- (The bristles were fairly stiff, not too soft or too hard.)
Advanced Usage
"stiffish resistance": a moderate level of opposition or difficulty.
- The proposal met with stiffish resistance from the committee. (The committee opposed it somewhat, but not strongly.)
"stiffish price": a price that is somewhat high but not exorbitant.
- The restaurant charged a stiffish price for its main courses. (The prices were fairly expensive.)
Variants and Related Words
Stiff (adj): rigid, not easily bent.
- The board was too stiff to bend. (It was completely rigid.)
Stiffness (n): the quality of being stiff.
- The stiffness of the fabric made it uncomfortable. (The fabric lacked flexibility.)
Synonyms
- Somewhat rigid: moderately stiff.
- Fairly firm: having a moderate level of firmness.
- Slightly stiff: a little stiff.
Related Idioms
- "Stiff as a board": extremely stiff (not directly related to "stiffish," but shows the comparative intensity).
- After the workout, his back was as stiff as a board. (Very stiff.)
Phrasal Verbs
- No common phrasal verbs are formed directly from "stiffish."