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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Recent Examples of harden
Allow to harden to room temperature before pouring flan base into cups.
—
Alex Cason, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
The move threatens to harden Iran's stance, deepen the standoff between Tehran and Washington, and further diminish any realistic prospects for a diplomatic solution.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
Leadership bottlenecks formed in Q3 often harden in Q4, meaning your 2026 initiatives start behind schedule before the year even begins.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The dynamic the two built wasn’t born in the writers’ room—it was built between takes, crafted in eye contact, shaped by mutual trust, and hardened under the pressures of being Black artists asked to do twice as much for half the credit.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Alex Cason, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
The move threatens to harden Iran's stance, deepen the standoff between Tehran and Washington, and further diminish any realistic prospects for a diplomatic solution.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
Leadership bottlenecks formed in Q3 often harden in Q4, meaning your 2026 initiatives start behind schedule before the year even begins.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The dynamic the two built wasn’t born in the writers’ room—it was built between takes, crafted in eye contact, shaped by mutual trust, and hardened under the pressures of being Black artists asked to do twice as much for half the credit.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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Progressives tout rent freezes as a solution to our housing crisis.—
Ben Proto,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
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So far, Walker has issued mixed rulings in the case, freezing some portions of the law but allowing other parts to go into effect, even as the campaigns try to gather enough signatures from voters to qualify for the 2026 ballot.—
Kate Payne,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While Italy aims to strengthen its vital connection to Sicily, China has been systematically building the world's highest bridges.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 Aug. 2025
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Honoring my Guatemalan ancestry only strengthens my commitment to America.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The sounds capture tiny mechanical vibrations, sometimes caused by stiffening arteries or narrowing heart vessels, that can indicate the early onset of disease.—
Carla Mendez,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
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That combination of scarcity and desirability stiffens competition and drives up prices, DeJohn says.—
Talia Wexler,
CNBC,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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