stiff

スマートフォン市場の競争は激しさを増しています。
Samsung Electronics forecasts fall in profit

Samsung has enjoyed robust growth in recent years, fuelled in part by the success of its smartphone division.
The success of its Galaxy range of smartphones saw the South Korean firm displace Nokia as the world's biggest phone maker in 2012.
However, competition in the sector has increased with other phone makers launching new products.
One of Samsung's biggest rivals, Apple, launched two new models of its iPhone - the top-end 5S and a cheaper 5C - in September.
Also in September, Nokia - whose phone division has been bought by Microsoft - unveiled two new phone models.
Taiwanese firm HTC launched its latest handset, the Android-powered One Max, in October.
Analysts said it was likely that the increased competition, especially the launch of new models by Apple, had hit Samsung's performance in the last quarter.
"Clearly Samsung is now facing its stiffest competition in the smartphone sector," said Mr Menon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25633375

記事の中に出てくる，”stiff”は「固いやしっかりした」という意味ですが，文意に会いませんでした。そのため，『Wisdom英和辞典（第三版）』（三省堂）で調べるとほかにも「激しい，猛烈な」という意味がありました。今回の記事では最上級で使われておりますので競争がとても激しくなっていることが伝わります。日本では「競争激化」という表現が使われます。この表現をWeblioでしらべたら"stiff competition"とでてきました。(Ume)

以前にも"stiff"に関連する用法が取り上げられております。
stiff upper lip #2/ reserve - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から