Stiffen: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.