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
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 stiffening
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffening
strengthening
Verb
-
Yes, rucking can improve posture by strengthening the upper back, shoulders and core muscles that hold your spine upright.
-
Machine learning systems can identify suspicious patterns and behavioral anomalies in real time, strengthening both fraud prevention and member protection.
Cite this Entry
“Stiffening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffening. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
