as in hardens
to become physically firm or solid
add antifreeze to the water in the radiator so it won't freeze and damage the engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 freezes
Any decision that freezes rents will be inseparable from Mamdani’s political agenda and will give rise to the obvious appearance of bias and undue influence.
—
Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
My eyes are back on Lopez, who freezes in the oak.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
The average person knows 0 degrees Celsius is 32 degrees Fahrenheit — the temperature at which water freezes — which Chicagoans would likely say isn't that cold.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Last fall, federal authorities announced a wave of criminal indictments, forfeitures, sanctions and asset freezes targeting North Korea’s illicit cyber activity.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
But there's nothing in nature that freezes your heart like years of being alone.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 13 Mar. 2026
In the winter, water that seeps into pavement cracks freezes and expands underground, acting like a wedge.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
The House voted 86-5 to pass House File 2242, which freezes tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa through July 1, 2031.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Christian Browne, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
My eyes are back on Lopez, who freezes in the oak.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
The average person knows 0 degrees Celsius is 32 degrees Fahrenheit — the temperature at which water freezes — which Chicagoans would likely say isn't that cold.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Last fall, federal authorities announced a wave of criminal indictments, forfeitures, sanctions and asset freezes targeting North Korea’s illicit cyber activity.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
But there's nothing in nature that freezes your heart like years of being alone.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 13 Mar. 2026
In the winter, water that seeps into pavement cracks freezes and expands underground, acting like a wedge.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
The House voted 86-5 to pass House File 2242, which freezes tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa through July 1, 2031.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freezes
Verb
-
Gulf’s stance hardens There have been strong signs that the Gulf’s collective patience has been wearing thin.—
Holly Ellyatt,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His turn into villainy is trickier, yet Gosling hardens his voice and his gaze and successfully spars with the murderer’s row of Giamatti, Clooney, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Moving the kink to one end makes that side soft and the opposite end stiff; placing it at the center softens the middle and stiffens both edges.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
-
What began as breathlessness hardened into silicosis, an irreversible disease that stiffens the lungs until even ordinary movement becomes effort.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Freezes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freezes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
