stiffly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Stiffly formal in their stunning uniforms, the officers occupy a French chateau, drive in sleek Mercedes convertibles, drink brandy, and savor Verlaine’s poetry, which the Allies use in coded radio messages.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 6, 2014

Stiffly attentive in their chairs, trying to look properly interested in the proceedings, the actors only reinforces the impression that what we are witnessing is less a drama than an animated science seminar.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2011

Stiffly held shoulders or too much shoulder, torquing the body with an exaggerated sway.”

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2011

Stiffly, the Mwami rebuffed Liu by saying: "I speak only to ambassadors who know French."

From Time Magazine Archive

Stiffly, like a stranger, Sanders moved across the hootch and lay down with a magazine and pretended to read.

From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien