stiffen
Lose all flexibility
Stiffen means to become stiff or to make something stiff.
Fabric stiffens with starch, joints stiffen with age, resolve stiffens under pressure.
A stiffening breeze grows stronger.
She stiffened when he walked in—her body tensed, became rigid with alertness or displeasure.
Stiffening competition is becoming more intense.
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
- hardenMake or become firm
firm · strengthen · nerve · embolden · gird · rally · buckle down · dig in
Make or become hard
- congealSolidify from liquid state
- setArrange in position
- thickenIncrease in viscosity
- coagulateSolidify from liquid form
gelatinize · cement · crystallize · curdle · jell · rigidify · firm up · toughen
Make more secure
- clenchSqueeze tightly shut
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- freezeBecome solid from cold
- seizeTake suddenly, forcibly
lock up · strain · tautness · rigidity · spasm · cramp · constrict · contract
Strict observance of convention
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- reserveSupply kept back
- aloofnessEmotional unavailability, standoffishness
- coldnessLow temperature state
stiltedness · woodenness · constraint · inhibition · awkwardness · standoffish · distant · ceremonious
steel
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
harden · firm · strengthen · nerve · embolden · gird · rally · buckle down · dig in · stand firm
solidify
Make or become hard
coagulate · gelatinize · cement · crystallize · curdle · jell · rigidify · firm up · toughen · indurate
tighten
Make more secure
seize · lock up · strain · tautness · rigidity · spasm · cramp · constrict · contract · flex
formality
Strict observance of convention
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- reserveSupply kept back
- aloofnessEmotional unavailability, standoffishness
coldness · stiltedness · woodenness · constraint · inhibition · awkwardness · standoffish · distant · ceremonious · prim
oppose
Act against something
stand ground · rebuff · defiance · obstinacy · intransigence · pushback · entrench · impede · hinder · balk
- scared stiffImmobilized by extreme fright
- frozen stiffImmobilized by extreme cold
- stiff neckCervical muscle tightness
- bored stiffExtremely uninterested and restless
- stiff upper lipControlled emotional restraint
- stiff peakBeaten whites that stand
stiff, stiffness, stiffened, stiffly, stiffening, stiffens, stiffer, stiffener, unstiffened