as in freezes
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 firms (up)
Verb
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In the winter, water that seeps into pavement cracks freezes and expands underground, acting like a wedge.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
3 Mar. 2026 -
The House voted 86-5 to pass House File 2242, which freezes tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa through July 1, 2031.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lee Harvey Oswald folding under Jack Ruby’s bullet—a split second that hardens into our collective memory.—
Christopher Anderson,
Vanity Fair,
27 Feb. 2026
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The snow eventually hardens like a concrete entombment.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The luxury retailer, weighed down by debt, is under pressure as consumers shift their shopping habits and competition stiffens.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
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The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Firms (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firms%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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