- haughtily stubborn or obstinate
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
stiff-necked /ˈstɪfˈnɛkt/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- stubborn;
obstinate;
not giving in:He should apologize, but he won't because he's so stiff-necked.
stiff-necked
(stif′nekt′),USA pronunciation adj.
stiff•neck•ed•ly
(stif′nek′id lē, -nekt′lē),USA pronunciation adv.
stiff′neck′ed•ness, n.
- having a stiff neck; having torticollis.
- haughty and obstinate;
refractory.
- 1520–30
- 2. stubborn, obstinate, intractable, willful, pigheaded.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
stiff-necked adj