Sturdy vs Stiff - What's the difference?
sturdy | stiff |
Of firm build; stiff; stout; strong.
* Sir H. Wotton
Solid in structure or person.
(obsolete) Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn.
* Hudibras
* Atterbury
Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality.
A disease in sheep and cattle, marked by great nervousness, or by dullness and stupor.
Of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible.
*
*:“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff , retroussé moustache.
(lb) Of policies and rules and their application and enforcement, inflexible.
Of a person, formal in behavior, unrelaxed.
(lb) Harsh, severe.
:
Of muscles, or parts of the body, painful, as a result of excessive, or unaccustomed exercise.
:
Potent.
:
Dead, deceased.
Of a penis, erect.
An average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education, often a working stiff''''' or ''lucky '''stiff .
A person who is deceived, as a mark or pigeon in a swindle.
(slang) A cadaver, a dead person.
(US) A person who leaves (especially a restaurant) without paying the bill.
Any hard hand where it is possible to exceed 21 by drawing an additional card.
To fail to pay that which one owes (implicitly or explicitly) to another, especially by departing hastily.
* 1946 , William Foote Whyte, Industry and Society , page 129
* 1992 , Stephen Birmingham, Shades of Fortune , page 451
* 2007 , Mary Higgins Clark, I Heard That Song Before , page 154
As adjectives the difference between sturdy and stiff
is that sturdy is of firm build; stiff; stout; strong while stiff is of an object, rigid, hard to bend, inflexible.As nouns the difference between sturdy and stiff
is that sturdy is a disease in sheep and cattle, marked by great nervousness, or by dullness and stupor while stiff is an average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education, often a working stiff or lucky stiff.As a verb stiff is
to fail to pay that which one owes (implicitly or explicitly) to another, especially by departing hastily.sturdy
English
Adjective
(er)- a sturdy oak tree
- He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty.
- It was a sturdy building, able to withstand strong winds and cold weather.
- The dog was sturdy and could work all day without getting tired.
- This must be done, and I would fain see / Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.
- A sturdy , hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps.
- a man of sturdy piety or patriotism
Noun
(-)References
stiff
English
Adjective
(er)Quotations
* (English Citations of "stiff")Derived terms
* stiffyNoun
(en noun)- A Working Stiff' s Manifesto: A Memoir of Thirty Jobs I Quit, Nine That Fired Me, and Three I Can't Remember was published in 2003.
- She convinced the stiff to go to her hotel room, where her henchman was waiting to rob him.
See also
* bindlestiff * See also ,Verb
(en verb)- Realizing he had forgotten his wallet, he stiffed the taxi driver when the cab stopped for a red light.
- We asked one girl to explain how she felt when she was "stiffed ." She said, You think of all the work you've done and how you've tried to please [them…].
- You see, poor Nonie really was stiffed' by Adolph in his will. He really ' stiffed her , Rose, and I really wanted to right that wrong.
- Then he stiffed the waiter with a cheap tip.