stuffiness
1
8.0
- noun
- /ˈstʌfɪnəs/
- 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
1
5.1
A plain, dull appearance with no bright color or style
1
7.7
Being very proper and formal in a way that feels stiff
1
6.7
A state of being ordinary and not exciting
1
8.4
A serious, old-fashioned style that feels boring
1
8.6
A stale, musty smell in a room or object
1
9.1
The quality of being ordinary and not exciting
1
9.6
Speech or writing that is too flowery and showy
Antonyms
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.