stiff requirements

USAGE SUMMARY

"stiff requirements" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means strict or demanding requirements that are difficult to meet. Example: The university has stiff requirements for admission, including a high GPA and extensive extracurricular activities.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Meanwhile, to qualify for the best rates, consumers still face stiff requirements.

The New York Times

American and British Airways tried twice before to bring about such an arrangement, only to face stiff requirements from regulators.

The New York Times

It may include stiff requirements that G.M. and other automakers restructure and meet financial goals before they can get access to federal financing.

The New York Times

Luxembourg dominates the market for a type of investment fund called UCIT, similar to mutual funds, that complies with stiff requirements so that it can be sold freely throughout Europe.

The Economist

The relatively stiff requirements by a panel that included nuclear power supporters appeared to take Japan's nuclear industry and its backers in government by surprise, and pose a challenge to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe just weeks into his term.

The New York Times

The law puts some pretty stiff requirements on states, in terms of making benefits available only to people who are working.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The only stiff requirement is that the vehicles should be safe, otherwise the government will pull them off the road.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sumitomo Mitsui, like other large banking groups in Japan, is under pressure to meet the government's stiffer requirements for financial health.

The New York Times

First, the deal frees up capital, getting the firm closer to meeting stiffer requirements coming soon under the accord from the Bank for International Settlements known as Basel III.

The New York Times

have proposed legislation that would dramatically increase capital standards for big banks, which would encourage them to break up rather than face the stiffer requirements.

Huffington Post

Environmental groups do not want to end all genuinely beneficial uses of CCW, but they do want stiffer requirements for disposed waste than are called for under Subtitle D, and they also have serious concerns about unconsolidated land-based uses such as structural fills and agricultural applications, says Chandra Taylor, a senior attorney at the SELC.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stiff requirements", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being demanded and why these demands are significant.

Common error

Avoid using "stiff requirements" when simpler or more flexible conditions are meant. This phrase implies a high degree of difficulty and rigidity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stiff requirements" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "stiff" modifies the noun "requirements". It describes the nature of the requirements as being strict, demanding, or difficult to fulfill. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a common and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stiff requirements" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies strict and demanding conditions. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's often used to emphasize the difficulty in meeting particular standards. With its frequent appearance in news, scientific, and business contexts, this phrase maintains a neutral to professional tone. When using "stiff requirements", consider the context to ensure it appropriately conveys the level of rigor involved. Alternatives like "stringent demands" and "strict criteria" can offer similar meanings while providing subtle variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stringent demands

Replaces "requirements" with "demands" and "stiff" with "stringent", emphasizing the demanding nature.

strict criteria

Substitutes "requirements" for "criteria" and "stiff" for "strict", focusing on the rigid standards.

exacting standards

Uses "exacting standards" instead of "stiff requirements", highlighting the precise and demanding nature.

rigid specifications

Replaces "requirements" with "specifications" and "stiff" with "rigid", pointing out the inflexibility.

tough conditions

Uses "conditions" instead of "requirements" and "tough" for "stiff", emphasizing the difficulty.

demanding prerequisites

Substitutes "requirements" with "prerequisites" and "stiff" with "demanding", highlighting the necessary conditions.

onerous obligations

Replaces "requirements" with "obligations" and "stiff" with "onerous", focusing on the burdensome nature.

challenging stipulations

Substitutes "requirements" with "stipulations" and "stiff" with "challenging", pointing out the difficulty in fulfilling them.

firm guidelines

Replaces "requirements" with "guidelines" and "stiff" with "firm", indicating strict adherence.

difficult provisions

Replaces "requirements" with "provisions" and "stiff" with "difficult", emphasizing the level of complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "stiff requirements" in a sentence?

You can use "stiff requirements" to describe conditions or criteria that are strict and difficult to meet. For example, "The company's success is due to the "stiff requirements" it imposes on its suppliers".

What phrases are similar to "stiff requirements"?

Similar phrases include "strict criteria", "stringent demands", and "exacting standards", all indicating demanding or rigid conditions.

Is "stiff requirements" formal or informal?

"Stiff requirements" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. It commonly appears in news, business, and academic writing.

What makes "stiff requirements" different from "difficult requirements"?

"Stiff requirements" suggests a more rigid and unyielding nature compared to "difficult requirements", which simply implies a high degree of difficulty.