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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harden
For now at least, the expanding of the war zone with more far-seas interdictions seems likely to only harden Tehran’s position.
—
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
After rooting, the cuttings can be kept in their original pots, transplanted into larger containers, or hardened off and transplanted outside into garden beds.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
And the valuable matter, in this case, the pure human feces and urine, had hardened over time, preserving the ancient excrement.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
The sky was the color of cotton candy, but the stale kind that’s been hardening in a plastic bag for days after the fair.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
After rooting, the cuttings can be kept in their original pots, transplanted into larger containers, or hardened off and transplanted outside into garden beds.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
And the valuable matter, in this case, the pure human feces and urine, had hardened over time, preserving the ancient excrement.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
The sky was the color of cotton candy, but the stale kind that’s been hardening in a plastic bag for days after the fair.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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The initiative includes a warrant to seize and shut down a major online recruitment channel on the Telegram messaging app and freezing hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit assets, Pirro said in a virtual press conference connecting her from Washington to journalists in Asia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The bill has already frozen the build-to-rent market.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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October 23 – November 21 An honest shift today strengthens what truly matters.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Scorpio October 23 – November 21 An honest shift today strengthens what truly matters.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your Cardiovascular Health Can Improve Quickly Arteries naturally stiffen with age, which can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
11 Apr. 2026
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The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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