This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (26 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Wednesday sits mid-week in difficulty, with more wordplay than Monday or Tuesday.
Answer length: 5 squares
First letter
S _ _ _ _
First and last letters
S _ _ _ F
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About the answer
STIFF as a word: (of an object) Rigid; hard to bend; inflexible; (figurative, of policies and rules and their application and enforcement) Inflexible; rigid.
STIFF has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since October 30, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
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