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
The city of Fort Worth has stiffened penalties for unauthorized tree clearing in an effort to hold developers accountable and protect the city’s natural landscapes.
—
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
For a more visceral feel, 'Sport' increases the throttle response, stiffens the suspension, and opens the exhaust valves.
—New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2025
That could be his saving grace as the competition stiffens.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Pindar said the fascia can stiffen under stress or illness, reducing circulation and making waste removal more difficult.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
For a more visceral feel, 'Sport' increases the throttle response, stiffens the suspension, and opens the exhaust valves.
—New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2025
That could be his saving grace as the competition stiffens.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Pindar said the fascia can stiffen under stress or illness, reducing circulation and making waste removal more difficult.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stiffen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stiffen
strengthen
Verb
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Establish security standards and procedures while participating in building and strengthening cybersecurity teams.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Police Chief Neil Noakes spent two decades in uniform, working to reduce violent crimes, support officers’ mental wellness, and strengthen trust in Fort Worth.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stiffen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stiffen. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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