as in to strengthen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
plans to further stiffen the already onerous requirements for admission to the elite military unit
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Recent Examples of stiffen
So, stiffen the luxury tax penalties for the Dodgers and the other big spenders.
—
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Salt dries into white rings, while melting snow can cause uneven water stains that stiffen leather, dull suede, and discolor fabric.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Outrage from the left about that maneuver stiffened Democratic spirits for a confrontation in the fall.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2025
Cream of tartar or 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice can be used to help the meringue stiffen.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Salt dries into white rings, while melting snow can cause uneven water stains that stiffen leather, dull suede, and discolor fabric.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Outrage from the left about that maneuver stiffened Democratic spirits for a confrontation in the fall.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2025
Cream of tartar or 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice can be used to help the meringue stiffen.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffen
strengthen
Verb
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Reporting to Fabien Westerhoff, who heads the company’s theatrical arm, Teste will oversee Global Constellation’s worldwide sales operations, working closely with distributors and talent agencies to further strengthen the company’s position in the global marketplace.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
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Of course, once Carey got her hands on one of her signature whistle notes (those really, really high pitches that very few singers can achieve) her voice strengthened, if not her performance demeanor, which remain staid and almost nervous and uncomfortable throughout.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffen. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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