stiffened
Grew less flexible
Stiffened is the past tense of stiffen, meaning to become or make stiff.
Something that stiffens loses flexibility or becomes rigid: The cold stiffened his joints.
A person who stiffens becomes tense, often in response to surprise or alarm: She stiffened when she heard footsteps behind her.
Stiffened resistance or opposition has grown stronger or more determined.
Became taut or rigid
- tightenedMade more secure
- clenchedContracted with force
- contractedReduced in size
- flexedContracted a muscle
braced · locked · seized · cramped · knotted · stressed · strained · anxious
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- solidFirm matter state
- fixedRestored or immovable
inelastic · firm · taut · hardened · immovable · brittle · frozen · reinforced
Made firm, not fluid
- setArrange in position
- congealedSolidified when cooled
- coagulatedThickened into a mass
- crystallizedFormed solid structure
cured · tempered · annealed · calcified · ossified · petrified · indurated · dried
Following strict protocol
- ceremoniousFormally observant, ritualistic
- woodenMade from timber
- stiltedUnnaturally formal in expression
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
unnatural · constrained · reserved · aloof · cold · distant · prim · proper
Grew larger in amount
- raisedLifted higher up
- hikedWalked a long distance
- heightenedIncreased in degree
- intensifiedMade more extreme
strengthened · toughened · hardened · boosted · elevated · steepened · enhanced · amplified
tensed
Became taut or rigid
- tightenedMade more secure
- clenchedContracted with force
- contractedReduced in size
flexed · braced · locked · seized · cramped · knotted · stressed · strained · anxious · nervous
inflexible
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- solidFirm matter state
fixed · inelastic · firm · taut · hardened · immovable · brittle · frozen · reinforced · braced
solidified
Made firm, not fluid
- setArrange in position
- congealedSolidified when cooled
- coagulatedThickened into a mass
crystallized · cured · tempered · annealed · calcified · ossified · petrified · indurated · dried · thickened
formal
Following strict protocol
- ceremoniousFormally observant, ritualistic
- woodenMade from timber
- stiltedUnnaturally formal in expression
awkward · unnatural · constrained · reserved · aloof · cold · distant · prim · proper · starched
increased
Grew larger in amount
- raisedLifted higher up
- hikedWalked a long distance
- heightenedIncreased in degree
intensified · strengthened · toughened · hardened · boosted · elevated · steepened · enhanced · amplified · bolstered
- hardenedhardened, solidified, petrified, fossilized, calcified
- intensifiedamplified, boosted, enhanced, heightened, increased
- stiffen upBecome rigid or tense
- stiffening upBecoming less flexible
- stiffened upBecame less flexible