THICKEN Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

thicken

verb

Definition of thicken

as in to stiffen

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 For decades, celebrity chefs have been urging us to reserve the starchy water that remains after cooking pasta to help gently thicken and bring the pasta sauce together. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026 Bring to a simmer, then reduce to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes to thicken and for the flavors to combine. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 And when blended, its polarizing lumpy texture totally disappears and helps thicken the smoothie. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 2026 Nut Butters Nut butters can thicken oatmeal, add to its taste, and give it a nutritional boost. — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for thicken

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thicken

Verb

Graham's aorta, at 71, tore, a dissection along a wall stiffened by decades of what the medical examiner called arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

— Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Group 1 is pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare and severe version that occurs when blood vessels in the lungs narrow and stiffen.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 June 2026

Definition of stiffen

Verb

Not only was this World Cup in Qatar played at the ‘wrong’ time of the year to avoid the summer heat, but it was also condensed into a shorter-than-usual timeframe, so maybe rest ahead of the final was particularly vital.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
This interview has been edited and condensed for concision and clarity.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of condense

Verb

However, some experts are concerned about how the roughly year-long effort to modify the aircraft may not have been sufficient to fully harden it for operations in high-threat airspace.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Instead of building parts one layer at a time, the system hardens the printing material all at once, producing seamless structures.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Definition of harden

Verb

But the freeze covers only about 28% of the total housing stock in the city, and critics allege that freezing rents will only make the housing shortage worse.

— Scott Cohn, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Xinhua said the factory’s owner and managers were arrested and the company’s accounts were frozen.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026

Definition of freeze

Verb

Ḥusayn’s defeat and Yazīd’s subsequent consolidation of power helped solidify the Shiʿah as a distinct and often marginalized group and enabled Umayyad dynastic rule of the Islamic world until 750.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026
Hollywood's win was over a superficial aspect, while Meta quietly advanced its core business objective, making ad creation nearly fully automated and solidifying its market dominance.

— Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of solidify

Verb

But if and when that dress turns out to be just one of the outfits for a documentary that goes to the highest bidder, the wedding good vibes will curdle just a little.

— Choire Sicha, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
If the temperature is too hot, the crème fraîche could curdle, and nobody has time for that.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 19 June 2026

Definition of curdle

Browse Nearby Words

thick

thicken

thickened

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thicken. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of thicken

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on thicken

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quid pro quo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes