stiffen
/'stifn/
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make something rigid or less flexible: To cause an object or substance to become firm, hard, or inflexible.
- To make something more severe or strict: To make rules, regulations, or attitudes more rigorous or less lenient.
- To make a mixture thicker or more viscous: To cause a liquid or semi-liquid substance to become denser or more solid.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become rigid or tense: To physically become stiff, often as a reaction to cold, fear, or shock.
- To become more severe or formal: To adopt a more rigid, formal, or unyielding attitude or posture.
Usage Examples
Verb (transitive):
- The cold wind will stiffen the wet fabric. (It will make the fabric hard.)
- The government decided to stiffen the penalties for fraud. (It made the penalties more severe.)
- Add a little cornstarch to stiffen the sauce. (Make the sauce thicker.)
Verb (intransitive):
- My muscles stiffen after a long run. (They become tight and less flexible.)
- She felt her back stiffen from sitting at the desk all day. (It became rigid and painful.)
- His smile stiffened when he heard the criticism. (It became forced and less natural.)
Advanced Usage
- "to stiffen one's resolve": To strengthen one's determination.
- The team's failure only served to stiffen their resolve to win next time.
- "to stiffen with fear/anger": To become physically rigid due to a strong emotion.
- He stiffened with anger at the unfair accusation.
Variants and Related Words
- Stiff (adj): Rigid, not easily bent; severe.
- The card was made of stiff paper.
- Stiffening (n): A substance used to make something stiff; the process of becoming stiff.
- The collar has a plastic stiffening inside.
- Stiffly (adv): In a rigid or formal manner.
- He bowed stiffly to the guests.
Synonyms
- Harden: To make or become solid or rigid.
- Tighten: To make rules or controls more strict.
- Solidify: To make or become hard or solid.
- Tense up: To become tense or rigid (for muscles).
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Stiffen" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The meaning is typically conveyed by the verb alone or with a preposition like "with" or "against.") - Stiffen up: (Informal) To become stiff, often from inactivity or cold. - I need to walk around; I'm stiffening up from sitting too long.
Related Idioms
- A stiff upper lip: An attitude of remaining resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity. (While it uses "stiff," it is a fixed idiom related to the concept of rigidity.)
- Despite the bad news, she kept a stiff upper lip.
Verb
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restrict
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Tighten the rules
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stiffen the regulations
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make stiff or stiffer
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Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine
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become stiff or stiffer
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He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room
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