Synonyms of stiffened

stiffened 1 of 2

adjective

as in stiff

incapable of or highly resistant to bending

stiffened corpses

an old-fashioned dress with a stiffened lace collar

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stiff
• rigid
• solid
• brittle
• strong
• unyielding
• inflexible
• dense
• crisp
• sound
• hard
• compact
• inelastic
• substantial
• firm
• rheumatic
• arthritic
• nonelastic
• nonmalleable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• pliable
• elastic
• pliant
• floppy
• resilient
• supple
• yielding
• workable
• plastic
• springy
• malleable
• stretchy
• soft
• flaccid
• semiflexible
• flabby
• limp
• droopy
• squishy
• mushy
• squashy
• willowy
• limber
• lithe
• lank
• lithesome
• lissome
• semisoft

stiffened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stiffen

as in strengthened

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

• strengthened
• hardened
• toughened
• harshened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• eased
• softened
• lessened
• ameliorated
• moderated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stiffened

Verb

Dogs that have stiffened up with age get an advanced joint-support chew with glucosamine, MSM, and collagen. — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Graham's aorta, at 71, tore, a dissection along a wall stiffened by decades of what the medical examiner called arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. — Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans' historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

The moose flinched and stiffened. — Fred Bear, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026

Reintroduce moisture, apply heat to convert that water to steam, and those stiffened starch molecules soften again. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 3 June 2026

His eyes locked to the right, his tiny body stiffened and his face turned red. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026

There was a sudden spring shower, which stiffened into rain. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026

The journey of King Charles and the Queen consort had been planned for some time, well before relations between the United Kingdom and the United States stiffened due to international tensions, compounded by the assassination attempt on Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026