Dictionary

stiffen en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈstɪfən/

Etymology

From Middle English stifnen, equivalent to stiff + -en.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make stiff.
   • It followed a sequence of functions: a machine cuts cloth panels to be sewn, the panels are drenched with the polymer and stiffened, a robotic arm uses suction cups to lift each panel and position it in a sewing machine. Finally, the robotic arm lifts the stitched T-shirt off the sewing machine. […] The system could work for most fabrics, with the exception of leather and waterproof materials that can't be drenched with the stiffening polymer. […] Zornow has patents pending in 10 countries for the process to stiffen fabric. 2016 October 11, Parija Kavilanz, “This robot makes a T-shirt from start to finish”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 19 Mar 2025:
   • As Willis spoke and tried to smile the voices inside him rang together like a bell, stiffening him and hollowing him and emptying him of his troubled song. 1986, Melvin Dixon, “The Boy with Beer”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 33:
   • Criminal prosecutions of abusers are generally the responsibility of local authorities, but the act stiffened sentences for stalking under federal law. 2013 March 7, “President signs Violence Against Women Act”, in CNN:
2. (intransitive) To become stiff.
   • He does note that fascia, like most connective tissue in the body, stiffens with age, overuse and injury. 2018 November 8, Dr. Melina Jampolis, “The real science behind fascia ailments”, in CNN:
   • Bewildered by the unexpected greeting, my son stiffened, but managed a polite answer. 2003, Yoko Ogawa, The Housekeeper and the Professor:

Forms

Deriveds

unstiffened · nonstiffened · unstiffen · stiffen up · restiffen · nonstiffening · stiffener

Relateds

stiff

Synonyms

starken

Translations (65)

es entiesarse (to become stiff) · fi jäykistyä (to become stiff) · izh kangeta (to become stiff) · cs ztuhnout (to become stiff) · la rigēscō (to become stiff) · it solidificarsi (to become stiff) · bg втвърдявам (to make stiff) · pl zastawać (to make stiff) · es endurecer (to make stiff) · fr raidir (to make stiff) · ga stalc (to become stiff) · nb stivne (to make stiff) · fi jähmettää (to make stiff) · it irrigidire (to make stiff) · fr endurcir (to make stiff) · bg втвърдявам се (to become stiff) · cs ztvrdnout (to become stiff) · sk stuhnúť (to become stiff) · de versteifen (to make stiff) · bg вкочанясвам се (to become stiff) · ar جَمَدَ (to become stiff) · fr s'endurcir (to become stiff) · it irrigidirsi (to become stiff) · fi kangistua (to become stiff) · fr se raidir (to become stiff) · hu merevedik (to become stiff) · pt endurecer (to make stiff) · es endurecerse (to become stiff) · pt endurecer (to become stiff) · fi kangistaa (to make stiff) · scn aggigghiari (to make stiff) · de ertüchtigen (to make stiff) · io rigidigar (to make stiff) · sv styvna (to become stiff) · es atiesar (to make stiff) · sv bli stel (to become stiff) · ta மர (to become stiff) · is stífna (to become stiff) · de versteifen (to become stiff) · mi whakawhena (to make stiff) · es atiesarse (to become stiff) · de aussteifen (to make stiff) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌽𐌰𐌽 (to become stiff) · sv stelna (to become stiff) · de verstärken (to make stiff) · mns-nor а̄гмалтаӈкве (to become stiff) · pl zastać (to become stiff) · fi jähmettyä (to become stiff) · vo stifikön (to become stiff) · it indurirsi (to become stiff) · vo stifükön (to make stiff) · ga stalc (to make stiff) · cmn 使僵硬 (to make stiff) · sv bli styv (to become stiff) · ro întări (to become stiff) · sk stvrdnúť (to become stiff) · ro întări (to make stiff) · es entiesar (to make stiff) · nb stivne (to become stiff) · scn attrunzari (to make stiff) · cmn 变硬 (to become stiff) · de aufdoppeln (to make stiff) · fi jäykistää (to make stiff) · da stivne (to become stiff) · mi whakamakiki (to make stiff)