What does it mean to be rigid?

To be rigid means to be stiff, inflexible, unyielding, and resistant to bending, changing, or adapting, both physically and figuratively. Physically, rigid means object does not bend or flex easily, such as rigid board or rigid metal that holds shape under pressure. Figuratively, to be rigid means to be strict, uncompromising, and unwilling to change opinions, rules, or behavior, such as rigid rules that cannot be altered, rigid schedule that does not allow flexibility, or rigid personality that resists new ideas. In behavior, rigid means adhering strictly to routines, procedures, or beliefs without adaptation, even when situation calls for flexibility. In psychology, rigidity can indicate difficulty adapting to change and insistence on own way. So being rigid means lacking flexibility, being firm and unyielding, whether describing material that does not bend or person who does not compromise or adapt, often implying stubbornness and strictness.