stiff-necked

1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude he was too stiff-necked to admit that "underlings" might have useful ideas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 stiff-necked But some Jews stubbornly refused to assimilate and continued the sometimes strange and stiff-necked traditions of our people. TIME, 11 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiff-necked
Adjective
  • The actor has one daughter with ex-wife Melanie Griffith and has been dating his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel since 2014. 05 of 09 John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad The actor behind the arrogant Lord Farquaad boasts an impressive career that began decades before Shrek came out in 2001.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Many members of its board appeared arrogant in the face of questions from the prosecutor or one of the lawyers.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Yoon's lawyers have accused the investigative agency that detained him before his formal arrest of lacking legal authority to probe rebellion charges.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2025
  • As a formal statement of disapproval, censure is about the worst punishment for a misbehaving House member short of removing them from office.
    Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Another type of hyperpigmentation that kojic acid can help with is melasma—a stubborn and hard-to-treat skin condition characterized by splotchy, brown or grayish patches.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Mar. 2025
  • But four months after becoming the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote, Trump faces a new reality of needing to tackle some of the most stubborn challenges awaiting any new president and deliver on his campaign promises to lower prices.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In short: There’s no correct answer; no handbook dictating the exact right way to preserve an entire country’s cultural history.
    Leah Asmelash, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Put differently, pollsters failed to set the correct expectations for 2024.
    Clifford Young, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Warner was adamant that oppressors should be stopped not only using military force, but also with intellectual muscle and dialogue.
    Chris Yogerst / Made by History, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
  • House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican who championed the law in 2022, has been adamant that mandatory financial reserves for building maintenance are essential in preventing another building from crumbling to the ground.
    Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Next is Atlético in the capital, a much stiffer assignment than a home match against a team destined for relegation.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The masterplan for ‘MasterChef’s return Though war rages, and Ukrainian troops continue to offer stiff resistance Russia and its North Korean army allies, some restrictions on civilians are being relaxed.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Kansas’ Devin Neal profiles as a downhill runner with a nice combination of size and speed.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The Boomers’ American Dream of working hard will provide for a nice house with a white picket fence, new cars, a family, financial security, and pensions.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Pope Misses Start of Lent The Catholic Church began the solemn Lenten season on Wednesday without Pope Francis because of his ongoing hospitalization.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season without the pope's participation.
    Bradford Betz, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stiff-necked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiff-necked. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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