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 xenon flash does a better job of freezing motion when compared with an LED.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026 -
Another necessity is more adaptive insurance that can price in novel risks without completely freezing up, as has happened in the strait.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nancy Watkins, a principal and actuary with consulting firm Milliman in San Francisco, said one of the report’s most important recommendations is statewide coordination of efforts to reduce wildfire threats through home hardening and removing flammable materials around buildings.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
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But Iran, which watched the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein next door, has been hardening its regime ever since.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
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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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Cite this Entry
“Firming (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firming%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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