用作定语
▲～+n.
There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。
The lawyer nodded a stiff greeting.那个律师不自然地点头示意。
I need a stiff whisky.我想喝点烈性的威士忌。
He suffered a stiff punishment.他遭受了严厉的惩罚。
We passed a stiff examination.我们刚通过了一次艰难的考试。
The army encountered stiff resistance from rebels in the hills.部队在山里遭到叛乱者顽强的抵抗。
He asked a stiff price for his used car.他给自己的旧车开高价。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
The clay is very stiff ; we must make it thinner with water.这黏土非常稠,我们须用水使它变得稀一些。
The old man's joints were stiff.那个老人的关节不灵活了。
Their manner was rather stiff.他们的态度很生硬。
Competition is stiff here.这里的竞争很激烈。
The asking price is too stiff.那个要价太高。
▲S+be+～+prep.-phrase
 He is stiff with wounded left leg.他因左腿受伤而行动困难。
He is very stiff with strangers.他在陌生人面前很拘谨。
▲S+be+～+to-v
The paintbrush was too stiff to use.画笔太硬了,没法用。

stiff还可用作副词，意思是“极度地,非常”。例如:
The play bored me stiff.这出戏剧使我非常的腻烦。

［派生词］ stiffen v.(使)变硬
［同义词］   chilly, cold, cruel, firm, great, tough
［反义词］   graceful, mild
［词源］＜中古英语＜古英语stif(硬的,僵直的)