hardness

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noun

Definition of HARDNESS

1

something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal <the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult>

Synonyms adversity, asperity, hardness, hardship, rigor

Related Words discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; hump

Near Antonyms advantage, break, opportunity

2

the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) <the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways>

Synonyms exactingness, hardness, harshness, inflexibility, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rigorousness, sternness, strictness, stringency

Related Words callousness, hard-heartedness, implacability, obduracy, obdurateness, pitilessness; dourness, gruffness; asceticism, austereness, austerity, monasticism; determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness; obstinacy, stubbornness

Near Antonyms forbearance, indulgence, kindness, lenience, patience, softness, tenderness, tolerance; responsiveness, willingness; compliance, pliability, pliancy

Antonyms flexibility, gentleness, laxness, mildness