as in freezing
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 firming (up)
Verb
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The below-freezing temperatures, which lasted weeks, froze creeks, ponds and even parts of the Potomac River in the area.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026 -
Gradual warming across Maryland through Thursday Early morning temperatures stayed safely above freezing in and around the Baltimore Beltway, but fog continues to be quite problematic.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To get the hardening benefit, the metal must be untainted.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
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Those workers will focus on repairing broken lights, hardening lights to prevent copper wire theft and clearing the backlog of deferred cases.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, Karel Havlicek, minister for industry and trade, told us.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
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These include stiffening of blood vessels, changes in heart muscle function and impaired ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to exertion.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Firming (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firming%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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