stuffed shirt
Self-important windbag
A stuffed shirt is a pompous, self-important person who takes themselves too seriously—formal and rigid in manner, inflated with unearned dignity.
The image suggests a shirt holding its shape without a real person inside: Don't be such a stuffed shirt—loosen up.
The term is mildly insulting, implying someone is stiff, dull, and overly conventional.
Falsely grand or important
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
snobbish · patronizing · smug · highfalutin · grandiose · ostentatious · sanctimonious · vainglorious
Unable to bend
- stiffNot easily bent
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- formalFollowing strict protocol
uptight · strait-laced · buttoned-up · prim · proper · starched · humorless · unrelaxed
Adherent to established customs
- conformistOne following accepted norms
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
establishment · staid · square · fuddy-duddy · stick-in-the-mud · old guard · hidebound · set in ways
Intrusively asserting authority
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- apparatchikBlindly devoted official
- pencil-pusherDerisive term for clerk
- paper-pusherClerical drone handling documents
administrator · middle manager · corporate · suit · executive · boardroom · committee · protocol
pretentious
Falsely grand or important
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
condescending · snobbish · patronizing · smug · highfalutin · grandiose · ostentatious · sanctimonious · vainglorious · pontifical
inflexible
Unable to bend
formal · uptight · strait-laced · buttoned-up · prim · proper · starched · humorless · unrelaxed · wooden
traditionalist
Adherent to established customs
- conformistOne following accepted norms
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
orthodox · establishment · staid · square · fuddy-duddy · stick-in-the-mud · old guard · hidebound · set in ways · by-the-book
officious
Intrusively asserting authority
- functionaryMinor administrative worker
- apparatchikBlindly devoted official
- pencil-pusherDerisive term for clerk
paper-pusher · administrator · middle manager · corporate · suit · executive · boardroom · committee · protocol · red tape
- clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, caught with pants down
- snobberysnob, snobbery, snooty, elitism, snoot
- snobssnob, elitist, snoot, prig, highbrow
- showoffsshowoff, show-off, braggart, bragger, boaster
- upper classaristocrat, nobles, baron, baroness, baronet
- curmudgeonscurmudgeon, grouch, grump, crank, sourpuss
stuffed shirtfree spirit
Uninhibited, unconventional person
loose cannon · bohemian · nonconformist · hippie · regular guy
stuffed shirtregular guy
Unpretentious common person
genuine article · salt of the earth · man of the people · real deal · straight shooter
stuffed shirtgood-time Charlie
Pleasure-seeking social fellow
life of the party · free spirit · people person · bon vivant · live wire
stuff, shirt, stuffing, stuffed, stuffs, stuffer, overstuffed, stuffings, unstuffed