What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stiffen
Example
The dough will stiffen as it cools. [stiffen: verb]
Example
She stiffened at the sound of the door opening. [stiffened: past tense verb]
Example
The company's policies have stiffened in recent years. [stiffened: past participle verb]
harden
Example
The cement will harden after a few hours. [harden: verb]
Example
He hardened his muscles during the workout. [hardened: past tense verb]
Example
She had to harden her stance on the issue. [hardened: past participle verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Harden is more commonly used than stiffen in everyday language. Harden is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stiffen is less common and often used in specific contexts such as baking or physical responses to fear or cold temperatures.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stiffen and harden?
Both stiffen and harden can be used in formal and informal contexts, but stiffen may be perceived as more formal due to its association with strictness or formality.
