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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Highs today will only hit the mid to upper 40s with morning lows down near the freezing mark both days.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026 -
In parts of the Midwest from Minneapolis to Detroit, temperatures could fall to below freezing.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When conditions are right for hardening off and planting your seedlings, continue to monitor weather conditions.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
25 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 29 Apr. 2026.
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