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Showing results for fossilize. Search instead for fossilizin.
Definitions

fossilize

[fos-uh-lahyz] / ˈfɒs əˌlaɪz /
VERB
harden
Synonyms
STRONG
amalgamate anneal bake brace buttress cake calcify callous cement close clot coagulate compact congeal consolidate contract crystallize curdle dry firm fix fortify freeze gird indurate jell nerve ossify petrify precipitate press reinforce set settle solidify starch steel stiffen strengthen temper thicken toughen vitrify
WEAK
densify
Antonyms
STRONG
continue dilute discourage dishearten disjoin dissolve dissuade divide enlarge flex hurt let go liquefy loosen melt open separate soften thin unfix unsettle upset weaken
WEAK
be intolerant indulge spoil
VERB
indurate
Synonyms
STRONG
acclimate acclimatize amalgamate anneal bake brace buttress cake calcify callous cement close clot coagulate compact concrete congeal consolidate contract crystallize curdle dry firm fix fortify freeze gird jell nerve ossify petrify precipitate press reinforce season set settle solidify starch steel stiffen strengthen temper thicken toughen vitrify
WEAK
caseharden densify
Antonyms
STRONG
continue dilute discourage dishearten disjoin dissolve dissuade divide enlarge flex hurt let go liquefy loosen melt open separate soften thin unfix unsettle upset weaken
VERB
ossify
Synonyms
STRONG
congeal freeze harden indurate petrify solidify stiffen thicken
WEAK
turn to bone
Antonyms
STRONG
liquefy melt soften thin
VERB
petrify
Synonyms
STRONG
calcify clarify harden lapidify mineralize set solidify
WEAK
turn to stone
Antonyms
STRONG
liquefy soften
WEAK
calm comfort melt please soothe
VERB
shrivel
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dwindle shrink wilt wither
STRONG
burn contract desiccate mummify parch scorch sear stale welter wrinkle
WEAK
mummy wizen
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bloom develop enlarge expand grow
STRONG
freeze moisten wet
WEAK
unwrinkle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Because sharks possess skeletons made of cartilage, their bodies rarely fossilize.

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2025

Behl is testing the chemical and mineral composition of the fossil blocks, hoping scientists can learn more about these prehistoric environments including the atmosphere and the conditions that enabled animal remains to fossilize.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2024

My mom emigrated from South Korea in 1967, bringing a set of flavors, techniques and recipes that would fossilize from that moment.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2023

Historically, reports of scientists finding fossilized brain tissue have been controversial because it was once thought that nervous tissue couldn’t fossilize, Live Science previously reported.

From Scientific American • Oct. 5, 2022

If she kept changing, she could never fossilize into the thing their father had become .

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan