Stiffen: meaning, definitions and examples

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stiffen

[ˈstɪfən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

muscles

To make or become stiff or rigid; to make or become less flexible.

Synonyms

harden, solidify, strengthen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
stiffen	Used when something becomes rigid or less flexible. Often refers to materials, muscles, or reactions to fear or surprise. The cold weather caused the canvas to stiffen. She stiffened in fear when she heard the noise.
harden	Refers to making a material or a substance more solid or firm, or can imply becoming more severe or less emotional in response to something. The clay will harden overnight. His heart hardened after years of disappointment.
solidify	Indicates the process of becoming solid, usually from a liquid or gas state. Often used in scientific, industrial, or metaphorical contexts. The lava will solidify as it cools. Her plans began to solidify after the meeting.
strengthen	Refers to making something stronger or more resilient, can be used for physical objects, muscles, or abstract concepts like resolve or relationships. He exercises daily to strengthen his muscles. They need to strengthen their marketing strategy.

Examples of usage

Exercise can help to stiffen your muscles.
The cold weather caused the metal to stiffen and become brittle.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

resolve

To make or become more severe, strict, or determined.

Synonyms

harden, intensify, tighten.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
stiffen	Used when something becomes more rigid or firm, often in a physical sense or to describe a less flexible situation or attitude. As the cold wind blew, I could feel my muscles stiffen. The company decided to stiffen their security measures.
tighten	Describes making something tighter or more secure, often used with physical objects or to describe making rules or control stricter. Make sure to tighten the lid on the jar. The government plans to tighten regulations on emissions.
harden	Describes the process of becoming harder, often used for materials or feelings. It can also imply making something more severe. The clay needs to harden before we can paint it. Years of hardship had hardened his heart.
intensify	Used to describe something becoming more intense, stronger, or more severe. This can apply to emotions, weather, efforts, etc. The storm is expected to intensify overnight. Her dedication to the project seemed to intensify as the deadline approached.

Examples of usage

The company decided to stiffen its policies on employee attendance.
The government plans to stiffen penalties for traffic violations.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

opposition

To make or become more resistant or opposed.

Synonyms

bolster, fortify, strengthen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
stiffen	Use when discussing making something less flexible or more rigid. It can be used in both physical and emotional contexts. The cold weather will stiffen the clay. After hearing the criticism, he could feel his resolve stiffen.
strengthen	Use when generally talking about making something stronger or more powerful, whether it be physical structures, relationships, or skills. Regular exercise will strengthen your muscles. We need to strengthen our friendship through open communication.
bolster	Use when referring to supporting or reinforcing something, generally to make it more effective. This word is often used in a positive sense. The government introduced new policies to bolster the economy. His encouragement bolstered my confidence.
fortify	Use when describing the act of making something stronger, typically in a defensive manner. It can be applied to physical structures or to abstract concepts like willpower or arguments. They decided to fortify the castle walls against the impending attack. She drank some coffee to fortify herself for the long meeting.

Examples of usage

The new evidence will likely stiffen the opposition's stance on the issue.
The aggressive tactics only served to stiffen the resolve of the protestors.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word derives from the Old English 'stifian', which means to make firm or hard.
Related words include 'stiff', which also refers to being firm and lacking flexibility.
The usage of 'stiffen' in English dates back to the 15th century.

Science

In physics, stiffening refers to materials changing their properties under stress, such as when heat is applied to metals.
Muscles stiffen during exercise due to lactic acid buildup, causing temporary hardness.
Stiffness is a key property in engineering, dictating how materials respond to force, which is crucial in building structures.

Psychology

Physical stiffness can translate to psychological states; when people are fearful, their bodies may stiffen as a natural reaction.
The concept of 'stiffening' can also relate to emotions; one might 'stiffen' against criticism, becoming less flexible in responses.
Studies show that stress can lead to muscle stiffness, impacting emotional health and physical well-being.

Art and Culture

In dance, a dancer's body might stiffen to create dramatic poses, impacting the visual expression in performances.
Stiffening can refer to the process of controlling materials in various art forms, like ceramics hardening when baked.
In literature, characters may 'stiffen' in response to trauma, metaphorically depicting emotional rigidity.

Sports

Athletes often experience muscle stiffness after intense training, known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Stiffening techniques are employed in sports to enhance performance, by improving the tension and reaction of muscles.
Coaches teach players to relax to avoid stiffness during performances, impacting agility and finesse.

Translations

Translations of the word "stiffen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 endurecer

🇮🇳 कठोर करना

🇩🇪 versteifen

🇮🇩 mengeras

🇺🇦 загартовувати

🇵🇱 usztywniać

🇯🇵 硬くする (kataku suru)

🇫🇷 durcir

🇪🇸 endurecer

🇹🇷 sertleştirmek

🇰🇷 굳어지게 하다

🇸🇦 يجعل صلبًا

🇨🇿 ztuhnout

🇸🇰 stuhnúť

🇨🇳 变硬 (biàn yìng)

🇸🇮 otrditi

🇮🇸 harðna

🇰🇿 қатайту

🇬🇪 გამყარება

🇦🇿 sərtləşdirmək

🇲🇽 endurecer

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,894, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
22891 inflame
22892 nudity
22893 lithe
22894 stiffen
22895 squeak
22896 suppurative
22897 lurk
...