as in to strengthen
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 stiffen
If the evildoers weren’t readily allowed access to the AI, the barrier to their dastardly ways would be stiffened.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
At one point, the lower half of a student’s body can be seen stiffening before the student then falls to the ground similar to a boxer being knocked out.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
The big red button on the steering wheel stiffens suspension temporarily for keeping grip.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
But Miami’s defense stiffened considerably late in the game and in both overtimes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
At one point, the lower half of a student’s body can be seen stiffening before the student then falls to the ground similar to a boxer being knocked out.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
The big red button on the steering wheel stiffens suspension temporarily for keeping grip.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
But Miami’s defense stiffened considerably late in the game and in both overtimes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Cite this Entry
“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffen. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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