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Synonyms

stiffener

American  
[stif-uh-ner, stif-ner] / ˈstɪf ə nər, ˈstɪf nər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that stiffens.

  2. any substance, as starch or buckram, that serves to stiffen fabric.


Etymology

Origin of stiffener

First recorded in 1690–1700; stiffen + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When you screw one side of the angle to the bottom of the seat, the other side of the angle acts as a stiffener.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2018

Soviet troops were just supposed to provide the initial stiffener.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sea breezes used to ruffle the models' clothes until someone devised a stiffener to make them lie flat.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Weel, that is a stiffener," he said, drawing a long breath.

From A Son of Hagar A Romance of Our Time by Caine, Hall, Sir

Lane fetched the stiffener in a soda-water bottle, and it cleared the legal atmosphere.

From The Book of the Bush Containing Many Truthful Sketches Of The Early Colonial Life Of Squatters, Whalers, Convicts, Diggers, And Others Who Left Their Native Land And Never Returned by Macfarlane, J.