Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #9112
stiffens
使变硬；使僵硬；使顽强；使严厉
stiffens is the third person singular of stiffen.
make stiff or stiffer
- 1.
To make stiff.
使变硬
- 2.
To become stiff.
变硬
变硬；变得僵硬；变粘；变强烈；使变硬；变硬；使僵硬；使顽强
In use
The muscles in his back stiffen after hours of sitting.
She stiffened the cardboard with glue to make it stronger.
Her resolve stiffened when she heard the news.
stiffen sth
及物用法，后接名词或代词。
The cold stiffened the fabric.
寒冷使布料变硬了。
stiffen (with/in sth)
常与介词 with 或 in 连用表示原因。
His muscles stiffened with tension.
他的肌肉因紧张而变得僵硬。
stiffen up
口语中常用，强调变得僵硬。
She stiffened up when she saw him.
她看到他时变得僵硬。
Connections
Collocations
- stiffen with fear
- 因害怕而僵硬
- She stiffened with fear when she heard footsteps behind her.听到身后的脚步声时，她吓得僵住了。
- stiffen muscles
- 使肌肉僵硬
- The cold weather stiffened his muscles after the run.寒冷的天气使他的跑步后肌肉变得僵硬。
- stiffen resistance
- 加强抵抗
- The new regulations only stiffened the community's resistance.新规定反而加强了社区的抵抗。
- stiffen one's resolve
- 坚定决心
- He stiffened his resolve to quit smoking after the health scare.在健康恐慌之后，他坚定了戒烟的决心。
- stiffen penalties
- 加重处罚
- The government stiffened penalties for drunk driving.政府加重了对酒驾的处罚。
Pop culture & quotes
Learner notes
Memory Tip
stiff（僵硬的）+ en（使）→ 使僵硬。想象冻僵的关节变硬，无法弯曲。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：material processing、body movement or sensation、attitude or policy 该词在不同语境下语域变化不大，通常适用于一般描述、技术说明及正式场合，既可用于物理硬化（如胶水、布料），也可用于身体僵硬（如肌肉因寒冷或紧张），还可用于抽象意义的强化（如态度、规定）。
Pronunciation & Spelling
These words end in the spelling '-en' but have different vowel sounds. 'Stiffen' (/ˈstɪfən/) does not rhyme with any of them; the closest vowel matches are 'listen' and 'christen' but the consonant after the vowel differs.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.