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stuffiness

stuffiness

1 8.0
A very formal, dull mood where people act too serious
  • noun
  • /ˈstʌfɪnəs/
translation icon : rigidez
  • Although Stoppard and Wright have a great deal of fun tearing down high society for all its stuffiness and birthing rules of conduct that stifle those with any fire in their hearts,

Examples

  • His stuffiness during meetings often stifled creativity and discouraged open dialogue.

  • Here there was no stuffiness, no stench, no public houses.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But The New Yorker still carries with it an aura of stuffiness and snootiness, especially among those who don't read it.

    Blog text (9)
  • Many among the bourgeoisie came to repent their stuffiness and recalcitrant attempts to preserve what had become a moribund artistic culture.

    Academic text (1995)
  • What interested them was the slogan "Familles, je vous hais" and the general thrill of liberation from the stuffiness of French conformism.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The stuffiness of the formal event made it difficult to enjoy the lively conversation.

  • Many guests commented on the stuffiness of the room, which felt overly serious and dull.

Synonyms

drabness
vsstuffiness
1 5.1

A plain, dull appearance with no bright color or style

is about oppressive formal dullness rather than only visual plainness
primness
vsstuffiness
1 7.7

Being very proper and formal in a way that feels stiff

is broader and means oppressive formality lacking liveliness
turgidness
vsstuffiness
  • Formal
9.6

Speech or writing that is too flowery and showy

is more about a dull oppressive atmosphere rather than ornate wording
stodginess
vsstuffiness
  • UK
8.4

A serious, old-fashioned style that feels boring

is more about formal pomp and an oppressive atmosphere
fustiness
vsstuffiness
8.6

A stale, musty smell in a room or object

is focused on pompous formality and dull oppressive mood
prosaicness
vsstuffiness
9.1

The quality of being ordinary and not exciting

is more about pomp and oppressive formality rather than mere ordinariness
mundaneness
vsstuffiness
6.7

A state of being ordinary and not exciting

adds sense of formal pomposity and oppressive atmosphere to ordinariness

Antonyms

4 4.9

A relaxed, casual way of behaving without strict rules

3 3.4

A feeling of energy and excitement that makes people active

How Formal

stuffiness
1 8.0
stiffness
1 5.3
formality
66 4.4
neutrality
22 4.4
casualness
3 3.7

Surface Forms

stuffiness singular
stuffinesses plural

Morphology

stuffiness = stuffy (semi-transparent) = stuff + y + ness

Formed regularly from 'stuffy', but the meaning is metaphorical (from physical airlessness to social/formal dullness), so the relation is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Stuffiness comes from stuff meaning 'to fill' and the ending -ness. When a place or person is 'filled' with strict rules and serious manners it feels closed and dull, and that is why stuffiness means being too formal or stiff.