stiffen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said that young people should stiffen their spines and embrace hardship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

She has also vowed to stiffen prison sentences and to impose a state of emergency in areas worst hit by crime.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

This involves the buildup of dense, fibrous tissue around the tumor, made up of cells and proteins that stiffen and inflame the area.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

"This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington DC safe and beautiful," the Pentagon chief said.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

On the surface, the water seems to stiffen and turn greasy.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong