Ossify

Quick meaning: Ossify is a verb meaning (ambitransitive, animate) To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions.

Meaning

(ambitransitive, animate) To become (or cause to become) inflexible and rigid in habits or opinions.

More Meanings

1. (ambitransitive, inanimate) To grow (or cause to grow) formulaic and permanent.
2. (ambitransitive) To transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals.
3. (rare) To calcify.

Example Sentences

Before long, the entire organization ossifies.

[…], nor do all bones of the same skeleton ossify during the samе period of time.

Possession of absolute knowledge would ossify the human spirit, quenching human creativity;

[T]he charge threatens to ossify into conventional wisdom before the movie's audience can get to theaters to see how misguided it is.

Word Forms

• ossifies
• ossifying
• ossified

Synonyms for ossify

Depending on context, synonyms include harden.

Antonyms for ossify

Common opposites include deossify.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include reossify, agatize, solidify, oldify, carnify, fleshify.

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