stiffen
[verb]
Synonyms:
- brace, reinforce, tauten, tense
- set, congeal, crystallize, harden, jell, solidify, thicken

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

stiff‧en /ˈstɪfən/ verb
[Word Family: noun: stiffness, stiff; adverb: stiff, stiffly; verb: stiffen; adjective: stiff]

1. [intransitive] if you stiffen, your body suddenly becomes firm, straight, or still because you feel angry or anxious Antonym : relax:
He touched her, and she stiffened.

2. [intransitive and transitive] to become stronger, more severe, or more determined, or to make something do this:
a campaign to stiffen rules against drink-driving
Their opposition only stiffened my resolve.

3. [intransitive] (also stiffen up) to become painful and difficult to move:
His joints had stiffened.
My back had stiffened up.

4. [transitive] to make material stiff so that it will not bend easily

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲