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 Nieusma recommends covering the paper bags with 2 to 4 inches of organic material like bark mulch, wood chips, compost, dry leaves, or straw to hide the paper bags and thicken the mulch. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 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 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
  • Proposition 132 attempts to address these concerns by stiffening legal penalties.
    — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But one of the positives Glenn highlighted was the defense stiffening in the red zone against Chicago, which went 2 of 7 inside the New York 20-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiffen
Verb
  • Finally, the wind seemed to permanently lie down, though storm clouds still haunted the horizon, forcing the sunset to squeeze beneath them, its rays condensed into a lurid, painterly slash.
    — Heidi Julavits, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Paraphrasing generally restates the original information in different language while retaining the key ideas, whereas summarizing condenses the information into a shorter version.
    — Ethan Stone, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of condense
Verb
  • The building materials are fire-resistant, as are the windows, and the eaves are fire-hardened as well.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The process, called cured-in-place pipe lining, involves inserting a flexible liner into the old pipe, inflating it and hardening it in place.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of harden
Verb
  • Ice•ology trays use a slow-freezing process designed to separate impurities and air bubbles from the ice, creating crystal-clear cubes that elevate cocktails, mocktails and everyday beverages.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Barnes is cold-based, and thus frozen directly onto the bedrock beneath it, which prevents it from sliding.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • The Lakers, who wanted to solidify their backup center position behind Walker Kessler, have only three second-round draft picks (2031, 2032 and 2033) available to trade.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Birkin bag solidified Birkin’s place in fashion history, but her name would never entirely belong to her again.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of solidify
Verb
  • These high-acidity juices can cause whey protein powder to coagulate and curdle.
    — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of curdle
Verb
  • Holden’s vignettes are caked in grime and emerge at a reckless pace.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of cake

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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 27 Oct. 2026.

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