She stiffened when he grabbed her shoulder.
The dogs stiffened in alarm.
The law would stiffen penalties for tax evasion.
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The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026 Will these Knicks stick to the process when the competition stiffens in the second round?—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 The journey of King Charles and the Queen consort had been planned for some time, well before relations between the United Kingdom and the United States stiffened due to international tensions, compounded by the assassination attempt on Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.—Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026 If your soft-sided carrier has an insert to stiffen the bottom of the bag, don’t forget to remove and wash the insert, too.—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stiffen