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
The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, Karel Havlicek, minister for industry and trade, told us.
—
Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
These include stiffening of blood vessels, changes in heart muscle function and impaired ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to exertion.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
About the setup In this baseball setup, the robots use soft joints and adaptive control systems to avoid breaking or stiffening up on impact.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Nov. 2025
Look for signs like the cat stopping purring, stiffening, thrashing their tail, or hissing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Afterwards, a squaring solution—a powdery mixture of water and a gel-like batter used in the decorative cake business—is applied to the inside of the hat’s crown to act as a stiffening agent.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
China has been a consistent source of stress for Apple, given the stiffening smartphone competition and its huge manufacturing presence in the country.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
These include stiffening of blood vessels, changes in heart muscle function and impaired ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to exertion.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
About the setup In this baseball setup, the robots use soft joints and adaptive control systems to avoid breaking or stiffening up on impact.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Nov. 2025
Look for signs like the cat stopping purring, stiffening, thrashing their tail, or hissing.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Afterwards, a squaring solution—a powdery mixture of water and a gel-like batter used in the decorative cake business—is applied to the inside of the hat’s crown to act as a stiffening agent.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
China has been a consistent source of stress for Apple, given the stiffening smartphone competition and its huge manufacturing presence in the country.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffening
strengthening
Verb
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With Bloomingdale’s distancing itself from the competition and strengthening its luxury and contemporary profile, the challenge is clear — how to sustain the momentum and build upon last year’s gains.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
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South Dakota state senators revived and approved a bill Tuesday that was described by its sponsor as strengthening parental rights, but was criticized by opponents for its potential to undercut protections against abuse and neglect, delay urgent health care decisions and encourage lawsuits.—
Meghan O’Brien,
States Newsroom,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiffening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffening. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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