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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harden Over time, this plaque buildup can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025 Furthermore, exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures (common in laundry rooms) can cause powdered detergents to harden and liquid detergents to spoil. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025 Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term. David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025 Alarmed, Augustine hardened his doctrine of grace, becoming its great theorist. Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
  • The wrongful murder conviction, now vacated, had kept him in state custody for decades, effectively freezing that process.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Damascus called it separatist theater and froze the Paris track.
    Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nevertheless, the stadium had by then become synonymous with big football occasions — a status that was only strengthened by three European Cup finals being staged between 1963 and 1971.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Regional lenders have been under pressure after last year's banking turmoil, prompting mergers aimed at strengthening balance sheets and expanding into faster-growing markets.
    Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For every mention of the Chicago Bulls’ trek toward toughness, of their hopes to stiffen the chests in the building and ignite a defensive revamp, Okoro has been the footnote.
    Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • McDaniel made the point that the Dolphins’ defensive line and run defense stiffened somewhat after struggling badly on the first drive.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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