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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
Duffy said the registration system and requirements for trucking companies will be strengthened while Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspectors conduct more spot checks of trucks and commercial driver's license schools.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
His addition also heralded the dawning of an era in which LACMA actively sought to strengthen its connections with the entertainment world.—
Arts Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffen. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
