1
as in hardship
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardness
The severity of water spots varies depending on your local water hardness.
—
Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
The hardness of seats, even those that recline flat into a bed, is a common pain point for many customers on long-haul flights.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
Routine tests are ran every few hours to check water quality through pH, chlorine, phosphate, fluoride, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, turbidity and the Langelier Saturation Index, which determines water balance.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025
Also add calcium chloride if the water's calcium level (hardness) is too low.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2025
The hardness of seats, even those that recline flat into a bed, is a common pain point for many customers on long-haul flights.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
Routine tests are ran every few hours to check water quality through pH, chlorine, phosphate, fluoride, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, turbidity and the Langelier Saturation Index, which determines water balance.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025
Also add calcium chloride if the water's calcium level (hardness) is too low.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
Deferment for financial hardship would also end, though borrowers in default can now rehabilitate their loans twice instead of once.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
-
School board Chairperson Jeanne Berger said in a meeting that Stacy's raise was approved in January 2020, before the pandemic contributed to the district's financial hardships.—
Jolene Almendarez,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
How Long Does Recovery From A Groin Strain Take? The recovery period depends on the grade and severity.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
When comparing 80-degree Fahrenheit days to days in the 40s, there was a 40 to 45% increase in the frequency or severity of sleep apnea.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Some players have been mixed on the game's difficulty – or lack thereof – and PC optimization could certainly be better, but nobody has any complaints about the gameplay itself.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
-
In times of crisis, having no financial cushion means that a franchise brand may not only have insufficient funds to keep going when income is restricted, but also may not have the ability to make the changes needed to navigate the difficulties ahead.—
Fiona Simpson,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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