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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harden
And then, as if he’s already relived the moment in question and arrived at the same, grim decision, Joel’s expression hardens.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
Farmers say their forebears initially enjoyed super yields, but the soil has hardened over time, and yields have plummeted, leading to more chemical use.
—Brooke Roberts-Islam, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
And over time, that suspicion hardened into something harsher: dismissal, condescension, and, ironically, meanness.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
This period of hardening off helps plants acclimate to the temperature and light levels of outdoor living and reduces the risk of transplant shock.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
Farmers say their forebears initially enjoyed super yields, but the soil has hardened over time, and yields have plummeted, leading to more chemical use.
—Brooke Roberts-Islam, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
And over time, that suspicion hardened into something harsher: dismissal, condescension, and, ironically, meanness.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
This period of hardening off helps plants acclimate to the temperature and light levels of outdoor living and reduces the risk of transplant shock.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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This adds another layer of protection without completely freezing access to credit. 5.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Her decision to freeze her eggs wasn't made lightly.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lastly, the acquisition strengthens the company’s balance sheet and should allow for significant share repurchases over time.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2025
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And the reports are then published, so the broader firefighting community can strengthen its procedures to avoid similar losses.—
Mark Olalde,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pindar said the fascia can stiffen under stress or illness, reducing circulation and making waste removal more difficult.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
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The Energy Department typically stiffens a requirement only after years of study, comment, negotiation and testing (and sometimes litigation) among industry, consumer and environmental groups.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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