Examples of stiffen in a Sentence
She stiffened when he grabbed her shoulder.
The dogs stiffened in alarm.
The law would stiffen penalties for tax evasion.
Recent Examples on the Web
The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
June stiffened, a pillar of ice.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Officials this year have increased restrictions on flying drones and stiffened the penalties for their unauthorized use—including jail time.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
June stiffened, a pillar of ice.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Officials this year have increased restrictions on flying drones and stiffened the penalties for their unauthorized use—including jail time.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Cite this Entry
“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stiffen. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
