Synonyms of stiffening

stiffening

verb

present participle of stiffen

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• hardening
• toughening
• harshening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easing
• softening
• lessening
• ameliorating
• moderating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stiffening

Not to mention their unusually flexible blood vessels could also help compensate for stiffening heart tissue. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Even simple movements can encourage healthy blood flow and keep fascia from stiffening up. — Jennifer Heimlich, Time, 27 July 2026

Major media companies operating traditional linear networks have been under pressure in recent years amid stiffening competition from large tech rivals as programming migrates to streaming. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 June 2026

Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand has lost much of its luster in recent years, dragged down by trade tariffs, stiffening competition and a patchy electric-vehicle roster. — William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026

Chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, stiffening them and increasing resistance. — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 1 June 2026

The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 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