thicken

verb

Definition of thickennext
as in to stiffen

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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 thicken Cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to thicken, about 2 minutes. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 Regional rivalries like the Border Showdown and Cy-Hawk Series thicken the air, too. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 After cooking for 10–15 minutes, add flour to thicken the mixture, and pour in the chicken stock, cream, and seasonings. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2026 The cells thicken a patient’s blood, putting them at higher risk for life-threatening heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. — Jason Mast, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thicken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thicken
  1. stiffen
  2. condense
  3. harden
  4. freeze
  5. solidify
  6. curdle
  7. cake
Verb
  • Avoiding harsh chemicals like bleach, fabric softeners, and the like will help keep your robe soft and absorbent as these formulas could break down the fabric, leave behind fabric-stiffening residue, or cause pilling and other concerns.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Davidsen bucks up her balky husband with a bloodthirsty holler, stiffens her voice against doubt, and, in her final sleepwalking scene, taps into the tender stratum of Lady Macbeth’s subconscious.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of stiffen
Verb
  • An edited and condensed excerpt of the conversation can also be found below.
    — Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • As winds are forced up to 13,000 feet along the steep slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, rapidly condensing air will squeeze out extra precipitation thanks to orographic lift.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of condense
Verb
  • European countries have hardened their stance against Chinese imports over fears that an influx of goods like solar panels and EVs could hollow out the bloc’s industries.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The incident could further inflame tensions between the Koreas, which have no working military hotlines or other emergency communications channels as North Korea hardens its stance toward Seoul while expanding its military nuclear program.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of harden
Verb
  • As a result of the layoffs and mass cancellation of contracts in early 2025, millions of NIH websites have been effectively frozen for nearly 18 months.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Cuts are planned to come, in part, from freezing wages for public sector workers like teachers.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • And of course, the success would be to meet the first wholesalers to be able to connect with a new audience and to solidify the structure of the brand.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Air France’s La Première just won the World's Best First Class Award at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, solidifying its reputation as the crème de la crème of commercial aviation.
    — Emily Adler Sach, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of solidify
Verb
  • But Buddy, the feature debut of Casper Kelly, lets the genre’s relentlessly upbeat tone slowly curdle in the opening sequence, in which one of the kids refuses to play along with day’s lesson about being brave and trying new things.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Yet there is little time for the thought to curdle, because this game is a Monday night maelstrom.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of curdle
Verb
  • The army has published footage of rescues via helicopter, and of people being pulled out of the hydropower tunnels, completely caked in mud.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Fore says borax can cake up and leave residue behind if it isn’t fully dissolved and rinsed out.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of cake

Browse Nearby Words

thick
thicken
thickened
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Cite this Entry

“Thicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thicken. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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