stiffness

/ˈstɪfnɪs/

/ˈstɪfnəs/

Other forms: stiffnesses

Definitions of stiffness

1. noun

   the physical property of being inflexible and hard to bend
   type of:

   inelasticity

   the lack of elasticity
2. noun

   the property of moving with pain or difficulty
   “he awoke with a painful stiffness in his neck”

   type of:

   awkwardness, clumsiness

   the carriage of someone whose movements and posture are ungainly or inelegant
3. noun

   excessive sternness
   synonyms: austerity, hardness, harshness, inclemency, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness, severity

   type of:

   sternness, strictness

   uncompromising resolution
4. noun

   firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action
   “a charming host without any touch of stiffness or pomposity”

   type of:

   firmness, firmness of purpose, resoluteness, resolution, resolve

   the trait of being resolute
5. noun

   the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment)
   synonyms: awkwardness, clumsiness, gracelessness

   types:

   woodenness

   the quality of being wooden and awkward

   gaucherie, rusticity

   the quality of being rustic or gauche

   type of:

   inelegance

   the quality of lacking refinement and good taste