hardening

1 of 2

noun

hard·​en·​ing ˈhärd-niŋ 

ˈhär-dᵊn-iŋ

: sclerosis sense 1

hardening of the arteries

hardening

2 of 2

present participle of harden

Examples of hardening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Still, this hardening of the body also shuts down the heart and emotional processing of the trauma. — Robert M. Kinast, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026

States preparing for an imminent war prioritize military mobilization and strategic hardening; Fujian, by contrast, is being developed as a long-term engine of economic integration, innovation, and cross-Strait connectivity. — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

In about one-third of patients, lung cancer screenings also detect unrelated health issues, including the hardening of heart arteries or a nodule in another part of the body. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Getting home hardening done, like a new roof, windows, and vent, is out of his budget. — Steve Large, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hardening

• gardening
• pardoning

Kids Definition

hardening

noun

hard·​en·​ing

: sclerosis

hardening of the arteries

Medical Definition

hardening

noun

hard·​en·​ing ˈhärd-niŋ, -ᵊn-iŋ 

: sclerosis sense 1

hardening of the arteries