as in strengthens
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 stiffens
The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Moving the kink to one end makes that side soft and the opposite end stiff; placing it at the center softens the middle and stiffens both edges.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The luxury retailer, weighed down by debt, is under pressure as consumers shift their shopping habits and competition stiffens.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
The light stiffens and grabs hold of us.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
High-Cholesterol Foods Foods high in cholesterol can negatively affect blood pressure, contributing to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup that narrows and stiffens the arteries).
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 28 Oct. 2025
In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Moving the kink to one end makes that side soft and the opposite end stiff; placing it at the center softens the middle and stiffens both edges.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The luxury retailer, weighed down by debt, is under pressure as consumers shift their shopping habits and competition stiffens.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
The light stiffens and grabs hold of us.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
High-Cholesterol Foods Foods high in cholesterol can negatively affect blood pressure, contributing to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup that narrows and stiffens the arteries).
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 28 Oct. 2025
In a similar way, a man who is defiant stiffens his neck, squares his shoulders, lowers his brows, and clenches his fists with his knuckles forward.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffens
strengthens
Verb
-
Murphy made a similar assertion in his Wednesday ruling, also claiming that the Supreme Court not immediately lifting the blocks on ending TPS for Haiti and Syria before justices hear those arguments strengthens his ruling.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move throughout Hawaiiuntil Thursday morning but will pick up intensity on Thursday afternoon as the Kona storm strengthens.—
Dakota Smith,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stiffens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffens. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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