become rigid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become rigid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process where something transitions from a flexible or adaptable state to a stiff or inflexible one. Example: "As the temperature dropped, the once pliable material began to become rigid, making it difficult to manipulate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Otherwise you become rigid".

The New York Times

Soon after, the chest, back, and abdominal muscles become rigid.

Harvard University

Because of decreasing elasticity, they tend to become rigid tubes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The economy had become rigid and uncompetitive, moaned entrepreneurs.

The Economist

You don't want to become rigid and unable to respond if something unexpected should occur.

Columbia University

But the ideology had become rigid, and something had to give.

The New Yorker

Without periodic innovation — in product, process, and organization — organizations tend to become rigid over time.

Harvard Business Review

Like all autocratic regimes, it has become rigid, paranoid, insular, insecure, impulsive, clumsy and illegitimate.

The New York Times

They had become rigid, had short fuses, and were distant from their children.

Harvard Business Review

The excess calcium also causes the muscle fibres to contract and become rigid.

Britannica

"Helpful insights" that the standard provides "need not become rigid and mandatory formulas," he added.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like strategies or policies, use "become rigid" to highlight a loss of adaptability and responsiveness to changing circumstances.

Common error

While "become rigid" aptly describes physical stiffening, consider more specific verbs like "harden", "stiffen", or "solidify" to provide a clearer and more vivid image for your reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become rigid" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the process of transitioning to a state of inflexibility or stiffness. Ludwig AI identifies its usage across a spectrum of contexts, both literal and figurative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become rigid" is a versatile verb phrase indicating a transition to inflexibility. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts from news and media to academia and science. Its function is to describe a change in state, and it maintains a generally neutral register adaptable to both formal and informal writing. When using "become rigid", consider the specific nuances you wish to convey, opting for alternatives like "turn inflexible" or "stiffen" for more precise descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turn inflexible

Emphasizes the loss of flexibility.

grow inflexible

Highlights a gradual process of losing flexibility.

harden

Focuses on the process of becoming physically hard.

stiffen

Indicates becoming stiff or inflexible.

solidify

Suggests becoming firm and stable.

become unyielding

Emphasizes resistance to pressure or influence.

ossify

Implies becoming set in one's ways or resistant to change, often in an organizational context.

become fixed

Highlights a state of being unchangeable or immobile.

become firm

Indicates acquiring firmness or solidity.

lose flexibility

Focuses on the loss of the ability to adapt or change.

FAQs

How can I use "become rigid" in a sentence?

You can use "become rigid" to describe a physical change (e.g., "The muscles "become rigid" during tetanus") or a metaphorical one (e.g., "Ideologies can "become rigid" over time").

What are some alternatives to "become rigid"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives such as "turn inflexible", "stiffen", or "harden".

Is it better to say "is rigid" or "become rigid"?

"Is rigid" describes a current state, while "become rigid" describes a process of transitioning to that state. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the change over time.

In what contexts is "become rigid" most appropriately used?

"Become rigid" is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize the process of losing flexibility or adaptability, whether in physical objects, organizational structures, or abstract concepts.