verb / adjective · neutral
stiffen
UK/ˈstɪf(ə)n/US/ˈstɪfən/STIF·fen
Band 6-7task2speaking
to make or become rigid or less flexible; to make rules or attitudes more strict or firm
Examples
“Cold weather can stiffen muscles and cause pain.”
“The government has stiffened regulations on food safety.”
“Public opposition stiffened after the proposal was announced.”
Band 8 sentence
“Following the scandal, regulators have stiffened penalties to deter future violations.”
Collocations
- stiffen regulations
- stiffen muscles
Word family
to stiffen / stiffens / stiffened / stiffening verbstiff adjectivestiffness noun
Common mistakes
to be stiffened by cold→to be stiffened / to get stiff in cold
stiffen the rules up→stiffen the rules
Say it for a higher band
5make rigid→6get stiff→7+stiffen
Synonyms
make rigid
harden (avoid using if listed elsewhere)
Easily confused
firm up
“The company decided to firm up its hiring policies.”
Related words
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In -en
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