as in froze
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly
the fruit juice should gel after you add the pectin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of gelled
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The gelled look embellished her bronzy visage, painted by Naoko Sofia Patrizia Scintu.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
Her new hometown features constant rain and a brooding yet gorgeous lab partner named Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who has unusually red eyes and excessively gelled hair.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
His dark, gelled curls sat immaculate on his head, aside from a single indentation where his mother’s chin found respite.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
And his gelled hair spike will be covered with a beanie.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
It’s turned into the beloved signature for who’s who in Hollywood, from Keke Palmer’s ginger chop to gelled spikes on Aweng Chuol.
—Essence, 18 Dec. 2025
Her short hair was heavily gelled, giving it that high-gloss finish.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Alana Semuels, Time, 1 June 2026
In a season when a new, young and raw Manchester City team gelled together to come so close to a domestic treble that remains one of the rarest achievements in English football, their player of the season has to be the man who did the most to bring everything together.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Ferrell gelled with each of them and everybody else, doing the Will Ferrell thing, which still works tremendously well after all these years.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
His unfailing commitment to civilian authority gave time for government institutions to sink roots, and established norms that gelled into the professional ethos of our military today.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Her hair was gelled down by Anthony Martinez, adding to the wet vibe of her look.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
From a distance, A’zion’s hairline disappeared under her bangs, which were gelled into tiny ripples on her forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Jan. 2026
Yet the band’s formula gelled when Malo and Reynolds switched places, with the former eventually becoming the primary songwriter and producer.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The Norwegian filmmaker’s last effort was Dream Scenario, a surreal comedy that never quite gelled.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
The gelled look embellished her bronzy visage, painted by Naoko Sofia Patrizia Scintu.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
Her new hometown features constant rain and a brooding yet gorgeous lab partner named Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who has unusually red eyes and excessively gelled hair.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
His dark, gelled curls sat immaculate on his head, aside from a single indentation where his mother’s chin found respite.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
And his gelled hair spike will be covered with a beanie.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
It’s turned into the beloved signature for who’s who in Hollywood, from Keke Palmer’s ginger chop to gelled spikes on Aweng Chuol.
—Essence, 18 Dec. 2025
Her short hair was heavily gelled, giving it that high-gloss finish.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
It can be gelled, emulsified, and made into just about anything.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 1 June 2026
In a season when a new, young and raw Manchester City team gelled together to come so close to a domestic treble that remains one of the rarest achievements in English football, their player of the season has to be the man who did the most to bring everything together.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Ferrell gelled with each of them and everybody else, doing the Will Ferrell thing, which still works tremendously well after all these years.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
His unfailing commitment to civilian authority gave time for government institutions to sink roots, and established norms that gelled into the professional ethos of our military today.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Her hair was gelled down by Anthony Martinez, adding to the wet vibe of her look.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
From a distance, A’zion’s hairline disappeared under her bangs, which were gelled into tiny ripples on her forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Jan. 2026
Yet the band’s formula gelled when Malo and Reynolds switched places, with the former eventually becoming the primary songwriter and producer.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gelled
Adjective
-
Cook and stir over medium until thickened and bubbly.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But her thickened skin, along with her toughened reputation, felt supple now.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That ties with December for the highest share of homes delisted since March 2020, when the pandemic hit and the housing market froze.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Coinbase froze more than $3 million in cryptocurrency assets tied to criminal networks.—
Michael Sinkewicz , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
My heart eyes for the beets and the overall experience at Rose's almost blinded me from noticing the dressing was hardly a caramel, but rather a congealed marinade with a grainy mouthfeel.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In particular, the bacon bits were chilled and all stuck together in one big, congealed lump along the inside of the bowl.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His eyes locked to the right, his tiny body stiffened and his face turned red.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
There was a sudden spring shower, which stiffened into rain.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Its origins trace back to ancient China, where cooks discovered that coagulated soy milk could be pressed into soft, protein-rich curds and cubes.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Study co-author and project scientist John Dykema suggests that the large coagulated smoke particles could affect atmospheric circulation through local heating, potentially shifting jet streams.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
16 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The bread service is de rigueur French fine dining but gets a Tibetan twist, courtesy of elements like warm highland barley sourdough served with clotted yak milk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
At Zain’s house, Yazid perched at the edge of his seat and stood up every time Zain’s mother came into the room, bringing first pomegranate sherbet, then food, several dishes served on a low table set in front of the sofa, and even a dessert, carrot halvah with clotted cream.—
Daniyal Mueenuddin,
New Yorker,
23 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Barkey and Zegras are roommates — and jelled just as well as linemates.—
CBS News Philadelphia Staff,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
From day one, everybody clicked and jelled well.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But needy, possessive Nikki smothers Bear, and what plays out is a horrifying tale of obsessive love gone wrong — sour, curdled and violent.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
-
Bad lemon curd is pasty, grainy, curdled or tooth-achingly sweet.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gelled. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
