as in hardens
to become physically firm or solid
add antifreeze to the water in the radiator so it won't freeze and damage the engine
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Recent Examples of freezes
This allows roots to establish while the soil is still warm but air temperatures are cooling, before the ground freezes, which reduces stress.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Nothing freezes a boarding line faster than someone standing mid-aisle, opening their bag to retrieve over-ear headphones, snacks, or a book.
—Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
But when rain freezes, the ice that forms contains little air and looks more like glass.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Leach said that when water gets into the roads and then freezes, the water expands, creating a little bubble beneath the pavement.
—Elle Meyers, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
When the water freezes and expands, the road surface weakens, which causes potholes to form.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
The salt lowers the temperature at which water freezes, preventing it from freezing.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below freezing, a long power outage can lead underground heating pipes to fracture if the water inside them freezes.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Nothing freezes a boarding line faster than someone standing mid-aisle, opening their bag to retrieve over-ear headphones, snacks, or a book.
—Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
But when rain freezes, the ice that forms contains little air and looks more like glass.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Leach said that when water gets into the roads and then freezes, the water expands, creating a little bubble beneath the pavement.
—Elle Meyers, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
When the water freezes and expands, the road surface weakens, which causes potholes to form.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
The salt lowers the temperature at which water freezes, preventing it from freezing.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below freezing, a long power outage can lead underground heating pipes to fracture if the water inside them freezes.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freezes
Verb
-
The snow eventually hardens like a concrete entombment.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As temperature rises, these vibrations intensify, creating a more chaotic, more resistant barrier that paradoxically hardens the metal’s surface against high-speed stress.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Freezes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freezes. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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