firming (up)

verb

Definition of firming (up)next
present participle of firm (up)
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)
  1. freezing
  2. hardening
  3. stiffening
Verb
  • Check your grass variety and local growing conditions before buying seed, and avoid planting when extreme heat, freezing temperatures, or drought could prevent seedlings from establishing.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For longer-term prep, follow our guide to making and freezing stuffing ahead.
    — Victoria Granof, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of freezing
Verb
  • The program would be funded through insurance premiums, with the goal of providing universal disaster coverage while directing some of that money toward reducing future risks through wildfire prevention and home-hardening efforts.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But hardening schools and practicing lockdown drills, among other steps to reduce school shootings, are not making young people feel safer.
    — Nina Vinik, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of hardening
Verb
  • Proposition 132 attempts to address these concerns by stiffening legal penalties.
    — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But one of the positives Glenn highlighted was the defense stiffening in the red zone against Chicago, which went 2 of 7 inside the New York 20-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiffening
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

firmed (up)
firming (up)
firmly
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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 6 Nov. 2026.

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