STUFFY Synonyms: 266 Similar and Opposite Words

stuffy

adjective

ˈstə-fē

Definition of stuffy

as in close

lacking fresh air the house was very stuffy after being closed up for a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stuffy When the heat arrived, my father, feeling ill and uncomfortable in a stuffy apartment (only a small fraction of Parisian apartments have air-conditioning), decided to end his trip early, returning to Chicago. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026 The combination of these unexpected shapes adds up to a sensitive renovation that doesn’t feel too stuffy nor too sterile. — Belén Afonso, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026 That Washington—with all its officiousness—was stuffy and predictable. — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026 This light, airy matching set provides coverage without feeling stuffy or constricting. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stuffy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuffy

Adjective

California Cruise is even closer than expected, with deliveries slated to begin next year.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
The success of this trial was possible through the close and constructive cooperation between the participating German Air Force organisations, the exercise management team and the expert teams from Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of close

Adjective

When talking about the Gerhardt brothers, Hudson, a quarterback, and Bailen, a receiver, first-year Village Christian coach Rand Holdren says there’s never a boring moment when the two are together.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Everton have finished 13th, in the boring but comfortable reassurance of mid-table, in each of the past two seasons.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

How skipping breakfast affects kids at school Nemours KidsHealth reports that kids who miss the morning meal often feel tired, restless or irritable by midmorning.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Skipping meals can negatively affect blood sugar levels and leave you feeling hungry, irritable, and unable to pay attention.

— Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritable

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

Definition of stifling

Adjective

Food & Drink You’ll find just two dining venues on the property, The Dining Room (which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and the poolside Palapa Bar, but there’s no chance of tiring of the fare.

— Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026
Permanent Marker Removal Trying to scrub permanent marker away is tiring, time-consuming, and often futile without some type of product to loosen the marker.

— Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of tiring

Adjective

Kusama, known for her fiery red wig, lived by choice in a Tokyo psychiatric hospital for decades.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
In humans and other animals the isothiocyanates stimulate sensory receptors in the mouth and nose, resulting in a peppery, pungent flavor that is often described as sharp rather than fiery.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

The Valkyries won their third straight game, defeating the Sparks 78-58 behind a suffocating defensive performance.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
The Fleet played a suffocating style of hockey, with a strong forecheck and the ability to wear down opponents with relentless offensive-zone pressure.

— Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of suffocating

Browse Nearby Words

stuffs

stuffy

stumble

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“Stuffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuffy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of stuffy

adjective

Example Sentences

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