stiffen

verb

stiff·​en ˈsti-fən How to pronounce stiffen (audio)
stiffened; stiffening ˈsti-fə-niŋ How to pronounce stiffen (audio)
ˈstif-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to become stiff or stiffer
stiffener
ˈsti-fə-nər How to pronounce stiffen (audio)
ˈstif-nər
noun

Examples of stiffen in a Sentence

She stiffened when he grabbed her shoulder. The dogs stiffened in alarm. The law would stiffen penalties for tax evasion.
Recent Examples on the Web Routine exercise – especially dynamic exercise like running – maintains a compliant heart and prevents stiffening. William Cornwell, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2024 Before his death, the boy was sheltering with other medically vulnerable children in a garage, and his body was stiffening up because of a lack of medical care. NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 The winter-specific tread is designed to provide secure grip on ice and snow, and the rubber won’t stiffen and freeze in frigid temperatures. Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2024 By some estimates, the loss of the pandemic-era federal funding could leave more than 3 million children without care across the U.S., further stiffening competition for families seeking placements. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Nov. 2023 Room temperature, obviously, so that the butter doesn’t stiffen up again. New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023 Analysts are largely blaming a harsh winter in much of the US, alongside stiffening competition, but aren’t ruling out other factors. Cameron Baker, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024 For motorists without the luxury of an automatic-start vehicle to warm up before getting in, trying to keep bones from aching and joints from stiffening (the human joints) often proves difficult. The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 After a tough start, their defense stiffened, and their offense started to find a flow. NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stiffen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of stiffen was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near stiffen

Cite this Entry

“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stiffen. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stiffen

verb
stiff·​en ˈstif-ən How to pronounce stiffen (audio)
stiffened; stiffening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce stiffen (audio)
: to make or become stiff or stiffer
stiffener noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stiffen

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