hardness

noun

hard·​ness ˈhärd-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being hard

2

a

: the cohesion of the particles on the surface of a mineral as determined by its capacity to scratch another or be itself scratched compare mohs' scale

b

: resistance of metal to indentation under a static load or to scratching

Synonyms

• adversity
• asperity
• difficulty
• hardship
• rigor

Examples of hardness in a Sentence

the hardness of a diamond

The wood's hardness makes it suitable for carving.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s also used to increase the hardness of steel, for instance, and as an anti-corrosive agent added to paints, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 14 June 2024

But many of these systems trap and replace calcium and magnesium with sodium, a mineral that does not contribute to water hardness, to lower overall hardness. —Sarah Blank, The Conversation, 20 May 2024

And all these problems have their own dimension of hardness. —Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2013

The papers implied that some kind of computational hardness would be necessary for almost all cryptographic tasks. —Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hardness

• Brinell hardness
• Brinell hardness number

Kids Definition

hardness

noun

hard·​ness ˈhärd-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being hard

2

: the ability of a substance (as a mineral) to scratch another substance or be itself scratched