1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
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2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
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3
as in to toughen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
arm muscles that were hardened by all the years of casting and hauling his fishing nets
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4
as in to stiffen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harden
Over time, this plaque buildup can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries.
—
Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Furthermore, exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures (common in laundry rooms) can cause powdered detergents to harden and liquid detergents to spoil.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Alarmed, Augustine hardened his doctrine of grace, becoming its great theorist.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Furthermore, exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures (common in laundry rooms) can cause powdered detergents to harden and liquid detergents to spoil.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Alarmed, Augustine hardened his doctrine of grace, becoming its great theorist.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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The wrongful murder conviction, now vacated, had kept him in state custody for decades, effectively freezing that process.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
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Damascus called it separatist theater and froze the Paris track.—
Hassan Hassan,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that Kyiv was working closely with the White House to strengthen its defensive capabilities, including its long-range capabilities.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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Oakland voters, meanwhile, overwhelmingly favored establishing the commission in 2016 and strengthening its authority in 2020.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For every mention of the Chicago Bulls’ trek toward toughness, of their hopes to stiffen the chests in the building and ignite a defensive revamp, Okoro has been the footnote.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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McDaniel made the point that the Dolphins’ defensive line and run defense stiffened somewhat after struggling badly on the first drive.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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