What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stuffy
Example
I can't stand being in this stuffy room with no windows. [stuffy: adjective]
Example
He's such a stuffy old man, always insisting on following the rules. [stuffy: adjective]
Example
The meeting had a stuffy atmosphere, with everyone speaking in monotone voices. [stuffy: adjective]
stale
Example
This bread is stale, it's been sitting out for too long. [stale: adjective]
Example
The air in this room feels stale, we need to open a window. [stale: adjective]
Example
His jokes are getting stale, he needs to come up with some new material. [stale: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stale is more commonly used than stuffy in everyday language. Stale is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stuffy is less common and often used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stuffy and stale?
Both stuffy and stale can be used in formal and informal contexts, but stuffy is more likely to be associated with a formal or rigid tone, while stale is more neutral in connotation.
