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
He stiffened his back to maintain good posture. [stiffened: past tense]
Example
The room stiffened with awkward silence. [stiffened: past participle]
solidify
Example
The lava solidified into rock. [solidified: past tense]
Example
We need to solidify our plans for the trip. [solidify: verb]
Example
Their friendship solidified after going through a difficult time together. [solidified: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Solidify is more commonly used than stiffen in everyday language. Solidify is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stiffen is less common and has more limited usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stiffen and solidify?
Both stiffen and solidify are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
