firmed (up)

verb

past tense of firm (up)
as in hardened
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 firmed (up)
  1. hardened
  2. froze
  3. stiffened
Verb
  • As speeds increased and night driving became routine, these simple visibility requirements gradually hardened into the more technical headlight regulations that shaped modern automotive lighting design.
    — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yet the hatred of Dulles—so absolute in its consensus—reminds me of other ways in which our culture has hardened.
    — Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardened
Verb
  • The plant, just outside Harare, is now fully operational, months after the government froze the export of raw minerals ahead of a complete ban next year.
    — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
  • The pandemic froze the in-person interactions the product had been built around.
    — Partner Content, Variety, 28 July 2026
Definition of froze
Verb
  • Dogs that have stiffened up with age get an advanced joint-support chew with glucosamine, MSM, and collagen.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • Graham's aorta, at 71, tore, a dissection along a wall stiffened by decades of what the medical examiner called arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
    — Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of stiffened
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

firmaments
firmed (up)
firming (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Firmed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firmed%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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