stiffness

/ˈstɪfnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstɪfnəs/ (ame, ipa)

stiffness — noun

1. a state in which a body part, material, or object feels tight, hard, or difficul

1.名詞B2
釋義

a state in which a body part, material, or object feels tight, hard, or difficult to bend or move easily.

例句

After the long bus ride, Kwame felt stiffness in his knees.

pattern: stiffness in [body part]

Morning stiffness in Nora's neck eased after a hot shower.

collocation: morning stiffness

同義詞
  • tightness

    often used for muscles that feel pulled or tense rather than for objects

  • rigidity

    more formal and common in technical, medical, or engineering contexts

  • hardness

    focuses more on resisting pressure than on resisting movement

  • inflexibility

    more formal and often used when the lack of bending is discussed analytically

反義詞
  • flexibility

    the quality of bending or moving easily

  • suppleness

    suggests easy, smooth movement, especially in a body or soft material

文法句型

stiffness in [body part]

morning stiffness

the stiffness of [material/object]

用法筆記

Usually used for body parts, muscles, joints, fabrics, or other physical things. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about a socially awkward manner rather than actual resistance to movement.

常見錯誤

❌My legs are full of stiffness.
✅I have stiffness in my legs.
💡Use 'stiffness' with 'in' plus the body part, not 'full of'.
❌The cloth has many stiffness.
✅The cloth has a lot of stiffness.
💡This sense is normally uncountable.

2. an overly formal or awkward way of speaking or behaving that makes someone seem

2.名詞C1
釋義

an overly formal or awkward way of speaking or behaving that makes someone seem distant, tense, or uncomfortable.

例句

The stiffness of the welcome made new parents avoid the club.

the stiffness of [social event or manner]

At dinner, Imran laughed quietly to break the stiffness at the table.

break the stiffness in a social scene

同義詞
  • formality

    broader and can be neutral, without the awkward feeling carried by stiffness

  • awkwardness

    focuses more on embarrassment than on rigid politeness

  • reserve

    more controlled and often less negative than stiffness

  • constraint

    formal and often used for a lack of ease in behaviour

反義詞
  • warmth

    a friendly, easy feeling in speech or behaviour

  • ease

    natural comfort instead of formal tension

文法句型

the stiffness of [someone's] manner

stiffness in [someone's] voice

stiffness at [event/place]

用法筆記

Usually describes the tone, atmosphere, or manner in a social exchange. Distinguish from sense 1 by looking for people interacting, and from sense 4 by noting that this sense is about discomfort or distance, not firm determination.

常見錯誤

❌Her stiffness means her back hurts.
✅Her stiffness here means she seems formal and uncomfortable.
💡In this sense, 'stiffness' is social, not physical.
❌The room had a stiffness because it was cold.
✅The room felt stiff because everyone was uneasy.
💡This sense comes from the social atmosphere, not the temperature.

3. how harsh, demanding, or hard something feels, especially in rules, competition,

3.名詞C1
釋義

how harsh, demanding, or hard something feels, especially in rules, competition, discipline, or other difficult conditions.

例句

Drivers complained about the stiffness of the parking fines downtown.

the stiffness of [penalties]

Small shops struggled against the stiffness of online competition all summer.

the stiffness of [competition]

同義詞
  • severity

    broader and often stronger, especially for pain, punishment, or weather

  • strictness

    focuses more narrowly on rules and discipline

  • rigour

    formal and often used for standards, training, or academic demands

  • difficulty

    broader and does not necessarily suggest harshness or pressure

反義詞

文法句型

the stiffness of [rules/competition]

stiffness in [market/system]

stiffness of [discipline/penalties]

用法筆記

This sense usually appears with systems, rules, competition, penalties, or demanding situations. Distinguish it from sense 4: sense 3 describes the harshness of a condition or standard, while sense 4 describes a person's unbending attitude.

常見錯誤

❌The stiffness of the walk tired me out.
✅The difficulty of the walk tired me out.
💡This sense usually describes rules, competition, or conditions, not a single ordinary activity.
❌Her stiffness of voice upset the class.
✅The stiffness of the school rules upset the class.
💡This sense is about severity, not social manner.

4. an unyielding attitude or sense of purpose that does not easily bend under press

4.名詞C2
釋義

an unyielding attitude or sense of purpose that does not easily bend under pressure, disagreement, or outside demands.

例句

The stiffness in Christopher's reply ended the discussion at once.

stiffness in [someone's] reply

Ziad respected the mayor's stiffness on safety after the bridge collapse.

stiffness on [issue]

同義詞
  • firmness

    more neutral and can sound fair or calm rather than unbending

  • resolve

    focuses on determination to keep pursuing a goal

  • obduracy

    formal and more strongly suggests refusing to soften

  • rigidity

    broader and often used for both attitudes and systems

反義詞

文法句型

stiffness of purpose

stiffness in [someone's] reply

stiffness on [issue]

用法筆記

Usually applied to a person's will, reply, or stand on an issue. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about awkward formality, and from sense 3, which is about harsh conditions or strict systems rather than a person's resolve.

常見錯誤

❌The stiffness of the law worried voters.
✅The stiffness of the mayor's position worried voters.
💡This sense is about a person's firm attitude, not a rule itself.
❌His stiffness means he could not bend his arm.
✅His stiffness here means he would not bend in the argument.
💡This sense is figurative, not physical.