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
The regime shapes us into its likeness, hardens the heart.
—
Azar Nafisi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
To prevent it from hardening altogether, use a terracotta brown sugar keeper to keep the brown sugar moist and fluffy.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
It’s been a week since a foot of snow fell on the city, and what was once fluff quickly turned into slush and has now hardened into ice.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2026
The mercurial way in which the president retreated served only to harden European attitudes.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Azar Nafisi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
To prevent it from hardening altogether, use a terracotta brown sugar keeper to keep the brown sugar moist and fluffy.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
It’s been a week since a foot of snow fell on the city, and what was once fluff quickly turned into slush and has now hardened into ice.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2026
The mercurial way in which the president retreated served only to harden European attitudes.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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An ancient microorganism that figured out how to keep its cellular structures intact through 40,000 years of deep freeze could someday inspire a product that keeps a soldier’s skin from freezing on an Arctic patrol.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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How long temperatures fall below freezing matters.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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PSyn supports that work by helping health plans and employer groups strengthen benefit strategy through education, practical analysis, and operational guidance grounded in real-world pharmacy experience.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every morning, seahorses greet their other half by performing a rhythmic dance that can last minutes or even hours to strengthen their bond.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The luxury retailer, weighed down by debt, is under pressure as consumers shift their shopping habits and competition stiffens.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, a senior cabinet member said.—
Michal Kubala,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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