as in company
a commercial or industrial activity or organization
merged with another firm to become a major player in the brokerage business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in solid
not showing weakness or uncertainty
a friendly fellow with a ready smile and a firm handshake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
cold butter that was too firm to spread
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stuck
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge
was firm in the saddle during the canter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
asked him to reconsider, but he was firm in his commitment to the project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
the selling price of the house is firm, so there'll be no dickering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion
built on a firm foundation, so the house hasn't settled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
that assassination theory is far from firm, since there's not a shred of actual evidence to back it up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of firm
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 May 2026
The barriers to entry are low, which means the market is crowded, and crowded markets have little tolerance for firms that cannot differentiate on execution.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Christopher Kostow, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
For now, the unanimous vote signals a firm stance from Bal Harbour officials — and a growing clash between local control and state housing policy.
—Anna McAllister, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firm
Noun
The investment firm upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 May 2026
The barriers to entry are low, which means the market is crowded, and crowded markets have little tolerance for firms that cannot differentiate on execution.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Adjective
Brush salt mixture off each yolk, then carefully rinse under cold running water to remove any remaining salt (yolks should be semi-firm, bright, and translucent).
—Christopher Kostow, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
For now, the unanimous vote signals a firm stance from Bal Harbour officials — and a growing clash between local control and state housing policy.
—Anna McAllister, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firm
Noun
-
In 1984, Monsanto and six other chemical companies agreed to pay a $180 million settlement to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Turner also oversaw the purchase of two motion-picture production companies, New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment, in 1993.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is a solid and affordable Ethernet cable that is sufficient for most homes.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Combined with flexible plan options and solid customer support, Cinch is a reliable choice for anyone seeking affordable home warranties without sacrificing quality.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
San Diego is still young, especially in the back, and is learning hard MLS lessons in real time.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
It’s often been hard to be a local sports fan in Connecticut.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
And the dejected diehard of a downtrodden franchise isn’t truly stuck in a one-sided detrimental relationship.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2026
-
Apple’s market share remained stuck in place, exposing the failure of the company’s Macintosh gamble.—
Geoffrey Cain,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Pichai’s lieutenants hold up his resolute focus on serving the user as an unequivocal good.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
The goal and Joao Pedro’s ping off the inside of Lucas Perri’s near post were the concerns, but beyond that, United were resolute at the back, but unable to muster anything of their own.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bigger lesson from the Strait of Hormuz crisis is that efficiency may work in a stable world, but falls apart in an unstable one.—
Victor Nian,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
-
Chinese state media said the robots can navigate difficult terrain and operate as stable mobile weapons platforms resistant to recoil and blast impacts.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
Build something sturdy enough that generosity becomes a choice rather than a sacrifice.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The ten-course meal costs a hundred and forty dollars per person, which is not exactly sofa-cushion change but does feel reasonable given that such high-flying pastry is normally available only at the end of ultra-ritzy meals of considerably higher expense.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Finding the perfect venue to have a ring, a backstage area, paying fees and setting a reasonable ticket price are all things that have to be considered.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firm. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
