firm (up)

verb

Definition of firm (up)next
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid wait for the modeling clay to firm up before handling the finished pot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for firm (up)
  1. freeze
  2. harden
Verb
  • In 2022, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, then and now the reigning Olympic dressage champion, chose to apply for the points-freezing process when stepping away to have her second child.
    — Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Those same items could also be made now, with the products frozen and canned for later consumption.
    — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is facing a tight contest for a Senate seat, also hardened his stance against data centers recently.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The rare trip by CIA chief John Ratcliffe failed to persuade Putin to stop the war and may have hardened the Russian’s leaders resolve to seek military victory.
    — Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of harden
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

firms (up)
firm (up)
first
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Cite this Entry

“Firm (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firm%20%28up%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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