Standard Lemma guide

stiff-necked

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a stiff neck; suffering from torticollis

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Stubborn and arrogant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

haughtily stubborn

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a stiff-necked old Boston brahmin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From stiff + neck + -ed. (figurative): Calque of Hebrew קשה ערף (Exodus 33). A biblical term similar to Swedish styvnackad, Ancient Greek σκληροτράχηλος (sklērotrákhēlos), Russian жестоковыйный (žestokovyjnyj), German halsstarrig etc.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: твърдоглав (tvǎrdoglav) — stubborn
  • Dutch: hardnekkig — stubborn
  • Esperanto: malmolnuka — stubborn
  • German: steifnackig — stubborn
  • German: hartnäckig — stubborn
  • Ancient Greek: σκληροτράχηλος (sklērotrákhēlos) — stubborn
  • Hebrew: קְשֵׁה עֹרֶף (qshe 'óref) — stubborn
  • Irish: cruamhuineálach — stubborn
  • Latin: contumax — stubborn
  • Norwegian Bokmål: stivnakket — stubborn
  • Norwegian Bokmål: hardnakket — stubborn
  • Norwegian Bokmål: urokkelig — stubborn
  • Norwegian Bokmål: halsstarrig — stubborn
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: hardnakka — stubborn
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: stivnakka — stubborn
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: vrangviljug — stubborn
  • Russian: упря́мый (uprjámyj) — stubborn
  • Russian: жестоковы́йный (žestokovýjnyj) — stubborn
  • Scottish Gaelic: rag-mhuinealach — stubborn
  • Swedish: styvnackad — stubborn
  • Swedish: hårdnackad — stubborn