1
as in freezes
to become physically firm or solid
the surface of the pond congealed after several days of frigid temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gels
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
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Recent Examples of congeals
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
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congeals
Verb
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The House voted 86-5 to pass House File 2242, which freezes tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa through July 1, 2031.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
25 Feb. 2026
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Planting bare root plants is done in the early spring before buds open or late fall after the plant goes dormant but before the ground freezes.—
Dr. Lauren Kurtz,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The snow eventually hardens like a concrete entombment.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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As temperature rises, these vibrations intensify, creating a more chaotic, more resistant barrier that paradoxically hardens the metal’s surface against high-speed stress.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The luxury retailer, weighed down by debt, is under pressure as consumers shift their shopping habits and competition stiffens.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
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The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Congeals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congeals. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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