View synonyms for stiffen

stiffen

[ stif-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to become stiff.
to become suddenly tense, rigid, or taut, as in bracing oneself for or drawing back from shock, fear, or displeasure:
He stiffened, expecting to hear the worst.

stiffen

/ ˈstɪfən /

Origin of stiffen¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; stiff + -en ¹

The embrace caused Susskind to stiffen up “like an unwilling virgin,” he later said.

She would break down to some degree, and then stiffen back up.

Black Hood took two steps toward her and saw her gun wrist stiffen.

Jessie saw the dark eyes blaze and the stern face of the countess stiffen with fury.

Beardsley saw her stiffen; there was a change across her face, a struggle beneath the eyes.

From where he sat watching—curious to see what Cash would do—Bud saw him flinch and stiffen as a man does under pain.

There is also in large bridges wind-bracing to stiffen the structure against horizontal forces.

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