1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid
the surface of the pond congealed after several days of frigid temperatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to gel
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly
the gravy had already started to congeal by the time the waiter served our dinners
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of congeal
Behind an offensive line that has congealed into an elite unit in recent weeks, McCaffrey has hit his season-long runs in back-to-back weeks.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
When the cast finally congeals at Kyle’s summer solstice party, Rachel is right up in there in the mix.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Might the thrill of their ambition congeal into something like obligation?
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for congeal
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
When the cast finally congeals at Kyle’s summer solstice party, Rachel is right up in there in the mix.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Might the thrill of their ambition congeal into something like obligation?
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for congeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congeal
Verb
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Saad told the Statesman recently that the ski area opened two-thirds of its terrain this season, and the nonprofit also froze season pass sale prices for next year in an unusual move.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Mar. 2026
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He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There have been instances in which two of the three have played together, such as Monday with Bader and Lee, but that trio won’t have many opportunities to gel and mesh before Opening Night against the New York Yankees on March 25.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Her hair was gelled down by Anthony Martinez, adding to the wet vibe of her look.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The facility had been recently hardened with a concrete shell and then covered with soil in the months before the current conflict.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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But there is a troubling shift that occurs when success hardens into excess and gives way to fear, a paradox that emerges all too often.—
Michael Sonnenfeldt,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What began as breathlessness hardened into silicosis, an irreversible disease that stiffens the lungs until even ordinary movement becomes effort.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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After the deputies put him back into the chair, Mitchell’s body stiffened, with his legs straight in front of him and his head lolling back.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Do not use warm or hot water since this can actually cause the blood to coagulate.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2026
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The honey was too thick and caused the sauce to kind of coagulate.—
Brittany Loggins,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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With that drama in the past, the team quickly jelled on the ice.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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Injuries have loomed large for Kings The Kings’ unbalanced roster hasn’t jelled, and the team has sparsely played well during a mostly miserable season on the court.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Before freezing, blanching the potatoes gelatinizes surface starches, and freezing encourages those starches to reorganize into a firmer structure.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
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Starches swell with heat and water, gelatinizing to give dough its airy lift.—
Sanjay Srivastava,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Congeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congeal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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