petrification Synonyms
Another word for petrification
• noun (Context 1)
The geological process by which organic matter exposed to minerals over a long period is converted into a stony substance, or a fossil formed in this way.
"The national park is famous for the petrifaction of ancient fallen trees into vibrant quartz and jasper."
• noun (Context 2)
A state of extreme fear, shock, or astonishment that renders a person unable to move, speak, or think.
"A sudden sense of paralysis gripped the hikers when they spotted the grizzly bear on the trail ahead."
• noun (Context 3)
The process of becoming rigid, stagnant, or incapable of change, development, or vitality (as of ideas, institutions, or societies).
"Historians attributed the empire's decline to the bureaucratic ossification of its governing institutions."
Opposites of petrification
The opposite of petrification shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: