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.

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 leads them to weaken and stiffen over time and usually affects how you walk, talk, eat and breathe.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2025

The effort to scrap the provision to stiffen penalties drew sweeping criticism from the governor and on social media.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025

The voice and a pitched whistle produced by the tall figure of a young man at the gate of the drowned man’s house made the mammoth canine stiffen in the backseat.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall