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stiffness
/ˈstɪfnəs/
lack of flexibility or ease of movement
The stiffness in his joints made it difficult for him to bend down.
This shows how stiffness can limit physical movement.
general
the quality of being rigid or inflexible, either physically or in behavior
After the accident, he experienced stiffness in his neck.
This refers to physical stiffness caused by injury.
Her stiffness in social situations made it hard for her to relax.
This refers to behavioral stiffness, indicating discomfort or formality.
Stiffness can refer to physical rigidity (e.g., muscles, materials) or behavioral rigidity (e.g., social interactions).
Collocations
muscle stiffnessrigidity in muscles, often due to injury or overusestiffness in the jointsdifficulty moving joints due to pain or inflammationstiffness of charactera rigid or inflexible personality
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Physical vs. Behavioral Stiffness
Stiffness can describe both physical rigidity (e.g., stiff muscles) and behavioral rigidity (e.g., stiff posture in social settings).
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Always consider the context when using 'stiffness'—it can refer to physical conditions or personality traits.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'stifnesse', from Old English 'stīfnes', from 'stīf' (stiff) + '-nes' (noun suffix).
Usage Notes
Stiffness can be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. In medicine, it often refers to muscle or joint rigidity, while in social contexts, it may describe someone who is formal or unyielding.
Word Breakdown
stiff
rigid or inflexible
root-ness
quality or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary