firming (up)

verb

Definition of firming (up)next
present participle of firm (up)
as in freezing
to become physically firm or solid wait for the modeling clay to firm up before handling the finished pot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for firming (up)
  1. freezing
  2. hardening
  3. stiffening
Verb
  • Concrete cracking can be caused by tree roots and soil movement, freezing and thawing cycles in the winter, and expansion during the summer.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • Consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
    — Brian Sloan,Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Verb
  • Residents are encouraged to continue taking preparedness steps, including maintaining defensible space, considering home-hardening improvements, signing up for emergency alerts and reviewing evacuation plans.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Candor, without the balance of Humility, Temperance, and Collaboration, risks hardening into rigidity, creating blind spots and stifling relationships.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of hardening
Verb
  • Major media companies operating traditional linear networks have been under pressure in recent years amid stiffening competition from large tech rivals as programming migrates to streaming.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 June 2026
  • Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand has lost much of its luster in recent years, dragged down by trade tariffs, stiffening competition and a patchy electric-vehicle roster.
    — William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026
Definition of stiffening
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.

Browse Nearby Words

firmed (up)
firming (up)
firmly
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Cite this Entry

“Firming (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firming%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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