as in strengthening
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 stiffening
But most recently it has been hit from several sides, most notably stiffening competition primarily from Amazon, off-pricers and membership clubs as well as Walmart and Target.
—
David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Competition has also been stiffening, the analyst added, which could be an additional tailwind for growth.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Competition has also been stiffening, the analyst added, which could be an additional tailwind for growth.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffening
strengthening
Verb
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Efforts should also prioritize public education, reducing stigma, and strengthening support for families and schools caring for individuals with autism.—
Adaira Landry,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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The National Hurricane Center has reduced the system’s development odds to just a 20% chance of strengthening over the next two days and a 20% chance within the next seven days.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiffening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffening. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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