Stifen vs. Stiffen: Mastering the Correct Spelling
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on March 13, 2024
Stifen is an incorrect spelling, while Stiffen is the correct form, meaning to make or become rigid or firm.
Which is correct: Stifen or Stiffen
How to spell Stiffen?
Stifen is Incorrect
Stiffen is Correct
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Key Differences
"Single i, double f" is a good mnemonic.
Visualize something becoming rigid, emphasizing the 'ff' in the middle.
Double "f" for "firmness" helps remember "stiffen".
Incorrect forms usually look odd; "stifen" lacks the expected firmness in its spelling.
Think of "stiff" + "en" to form "stiffen".
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Correct usage of Stiffen
Her muscles would stifen when she felt nervous.
Her muscles would stiffen when she felt nervous.
He tried not to stifen during the scary movie.
He tried not to stiffen during the scary movie.
Stiffen his resolve was not enough to face the challenge.
The cold weather made the clothes on the line stifen.
The cold weather made the clothes on the line stiffen.
The mixture will start to stifen as it cools.
The mixture will start to stiffen as it cools.
Stiffen Definitions
To reinforce or support.
The engineer stiffened the structure with steel beams.
To make or become less flexible.
He saw the danger and stiffened in response.
To become more formal in demeanor.
She stiffened at his rude comment.
To become firmer or less fluid.
The gel will stiffen when refrigerated.
To make stronger or more resilient.
Adding more flour will stiffen the dough.
To make or become stiff or stiffer.
(transitive) To make stiff.
(intransitive) To become stiff.
To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as, to stiffen cloth with starch.
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
To inspissate; to make more thick or viscous; as, to stiffen paste.
To make torpid; to benumb.
To become stiff or stiffer, in any sense of the adjective.
Like bristles rose my stiffening hair.
The tender soil then stiffening by degrees.
Some souls we see,Grow hard and stiffen with adversity.
Become stiff or stiffer;
He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room
Make stiff or stiffer;
Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine
Restrict;
Tighten the rules
Stiffen the regulations
Stiffen Sentences
Muscles tend to stiffen after a heavy workout session.
The dough will stiffen if you leave it in the fridge for too long.
You could see the plant's leaves stiffen as the temperature dropped.
When she heard the footsteps, she could feel her body stiffen in fear.
He felt his jaw stiffen in anger at the unfair accusation.
The mixture should stiffen after ten minutes of whisking.
The artist saw the paint stiffen and knew it was time to stop.
Her smile would stiffen whenever the topic was brought up.
The gelatin mixture begins to stiffen as it cools down to room temperature.
The air seemed to stiffen with tension as the argument escalated.
Legs can stiffen during long flights due to lack of movement.
To stiffen the fabric, a special solution is applied before sewing.
Fingers stiffen in cold weather, making it hard to type or write.
She felt her resolve stiffen as she decided to face her fears.
He noticed his grip on the pen stiffen as he became more nervous.
Her stance would stiffen whenever she was about to make a serious point.
To stiffen the collar, he applied extra starch before ironing.
The sudden noise made everyone in the room stiffen in surprise.
The ice cream will stiffen in the freezer within a few hours.
To help the structure hold, they used a solution to stiffen the material.
Stiffen Idioms & Phrases
Stiffen up
To become rigid or make something rigid, often due to fear or tension.
He would stiffen up every time he had to speak in public.
Stiffen against
To become rigid in opposition to something.
She could feel herself stiffen against the criticism, refusing to be swayed.
Stiffen the competition
To make a competition tougher or more challenging.
The arrival of new athletes stiffened the competition at the championships.
Stiffen the spine
To become more courageous or resolute.
Knowing she had her family's support helped to stiffen her spine against the challenges.
Stiffen the resolve
To make one's determination or resolve stronger or more firm.
The athlete's failure only served to stiffen her resolve to win next time.
Stiffen one's attitude
To adopt a more serious or firm attitude.
He had to stiffen his attitude when negotiating the contract.
Stiffen with emotion
To become physically rigid as a result of strong emotions.
She stiffened with emotion when she heard the national anthem.
Stiffen the penalties
To make the penalties for an offense harsher or more severe.
The legislature voted to stiffen the penalties for drunk driving.
Stiffen one's posture
To make one's posture more erect or rigid, often to convey confidence.
She stiffened her posture before entering the interview room.
Stiffen resistance
To make resistance to something stronger.
The harsh measures only served to stiffen resistance among the populace.
Stiffen in defense
To become rigid as a means of protection or defense.
The cat stiffened in defense when it saw the dog.
Stiffen in anticipation
To become tense in expectation of something.
The crowd stiffened in anticipation as the performer climbed onto the high wire.
Stiffen one’s defenses
To strengthen one's defenses or protections.
The city stiffened its defenses in preparation for the storm.
Stiffen one's tone
To make one's tone of voice more serious or stern.
The teacher stiffened her tone to emphasize the importance of the warning.
Stiffen one's efforts
To increase the intensity or effort put into something.
The team stiffened their efforts in the final quarter of the game.
Stiffen under scrutiny
To become nervous or uncomfortable when closely examined or observed.
The suspect stiffened under scrutiny during the interrogation.
Stiffen with cold
To become rigid due to low temperatures.
Their fingers stiffened with cold as they waited outside.
Stiffen with determination
To become more determined or resolved, often visibly.
She stiffened with determination as she faced the challenging task ahead.
Stiffen the rules
To make rules stricter or more rigid.
The school decided to stiffen the rules regarding phone use during classes.
FAQs
What is the verb form of Stiffen?
"Stiffen" itself is a verb.
Why is it called Stiffen?
It's called "Stiffen" as it describes the action or process of becoming stiff.
What is the pronunciation of Stiffen?
/ˈstɪf.ən/
What is the root word of Stiffen?
The root word is "stiff."
Which article is used with Stiffen?
"The" or "a" can be used, depending on the sentence.
Which vowel is used before Stiffen?
The vowel "i" is used.
What is the singular form of Stiffen?
Stiffen is a verb and doesn't have a singular or plural form in the same way nouns do.
What is the plural form of Stiffen?
As a verb, "stiffen" does not have a plural form.
Which conjunction is used with Stiffen?
Any conjunction can be used with "stiffen" based on context, like "and" or "but."
Which preposition is used with Stiffen?
Prepositions such as "at," "in," or "with" can be used with "stiffen," depending on the context.
Is Stiffen a negative or positive word?
Neutral; the connotation depends on the context.
Is Stiffen a countable noun?
"Stiffen" is not primarily a noun, so it's not countable.
Is Stiffen a vowel or consonant?
It's a word, not a single letter. The word contains both vowels and consonants.
Is Stiffen a collective noun?
No.
How do we divide Stiffen into syllables?
Stif-fen.
What part of speech is Stiffen?
Verb.
Is Stiffen a noun or adjective?
"Stiffen" is primarily a verb.
Is Stiffen an adverb?
No.
Is the word Stiffen is imperative?
It can be, as in the command "Stiffen your back!"
How many syllables are in Stiffen?
Two syllables.
What is another term for Stiffen?
Harden.
What is the first form of Stiffen?
Stiffen.
What is the second form of Stiffen?
Stiffened.
How is Stiffen used in a sentence?
"The cold weather made the clothes stiffen on the line."
Is Stiffen an abstract noun?
No.
Is the Stiffen term a metaphor?
By itself, no, but it can be used metaphorically in a sentence.
What is a stressed syllable in Stiffen?
The first syllable, "Stif."
What is the opposite of Stiffen?
Relax or soften.
Which determiner is used with Stiffen?
Determiners like "the," "my," "his," "her," etc., can be used based on the context.
What is the third form of Stiffen?
Stiffened.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
