Definitions
- Referring to the process of becoming stiff or rigid. - Describing a physical response to fear, shock, or coldness. - Talking about the act of adding stiffness or support to something.
- Referring to the process of becoming hard or solid. - Describing a physical response to exposure to heat or coldness. - Talking about the act of making something harder or more resistant.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve a change in physical state.
- 2Both can be used to describe a physical response to external stimuli.
- 3Both can be used as nouns or verbs.
- 4Both can be used in technical or scientific contexts.
- 5Both can be used metaphorically to describe emotional or mental states.
What is the difference?
- 1Process: Stiffening involves becoming stiff or rigid, while hardening involves becoming hard or solid.
- 2Cause: Stiffening can be caused by fear, shock, or coldness, while hardening can be caused by exposure to heat or coldness.
- 3Application: Stiffening can refer to adding stiffness or support to something, while hardening can refer to making something harder or more resistant.
- 4Materials: Stiffening is often used in reference to fabrics or materials that need to be made stiffer, while hardening is often used in reference to metals or materials that need to be made harder.
- 5Metaphorical use: Stiffening is often used to describe a physical response to fear or shock, while hardening is often used to describe emotional or mental states, such as a hardened criminal or a hardened heart.
Remember this!
Stiffening and hardening are both words that describe a change in physical state. However, stiffening refers to becoming stiff or rigid, often in response to fear, shock, or coldness, while hardening refers to becoming hard or solid, often in response to exposure to heat or coldness. Additionally, stiffening can refer to adding stiffness or support to something, while hardening can refer to making something harder or more resistant.
