Thickish vs. Thickened — What's the Difference?

The expression ‘thickish’ might be used to convey the non-extreme, inherent quality of items, portraying them as neither too thick nor too thin. It emphasizes the natural or original state of objects or substances, allowing for a nuanced expression of their characteristics. Whereas ‘thickened’ articulates the altered state of objects or substances, focusing on the transformation they have undergone to become more dense or viscous. It underscores the aspect of modification or transition, highlighting the resultant condition as opposed to the original state.

In everyday language, thickish is often used to describe objects, substances, or qualities that exhibit a degree of thickness but do not fully embody the characteristic of being thick. It’s a term that finds utility in casual, informal expressions to convey approximate states or inherent properties of items, implying an inherent or natural condition. On the other hand, thickened is commonly utilized to express the outcome of a process, where substances or materials have increased in density or viscosity, emphasizing the aspect of change or transformation from an original state.

In communicative contexts, the nuanced distinction between thickish and thickened allows for a richer, more precise conveyance of meaning. ‘Thickish’ offers a convenient means to describe inherent qualities in a non-extreme, approximate manner, providing a balanced representation of characteristics. Conversely, ‘thickened’ delivers a clear depiction of altered states, focusing on the outcome of processes or changes, enabling a concise expression of transformation and resultancy in various contexts.

Thickish and Thickened are terms with different implications and applications. Thickish denotes a characteristic that is somewhat thick but not fully or solidly so. It represents an intermediate state of thickness, indicating that something is neither thin nor completely thick, usually implying a natural state or inherent quality. In contrast, Thickened refers to something that has undergone a process to become denser or more viscous. It implies an alteration from an original state, usually through external intervention or a change in conditions.