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harden

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of harden

1 to become physically firm or solid
  • The glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air.
Synonyms of harden

concrete, congeal, firm (up), freeze, indurate, set, solidify
Words Related to harden

cake, callus, encrust (also incrust)

clot, coagulate, jell, jelly, stiffen, thicken

calcify, crystallize (also crystalize), ossify, petrify, rigidify

anneal, case-harden, temper
Near Antonyms of harden

deliquesce, dissolve, flux, fuse, melt, smelt, thaw, unfreeze
Antonyms of harden

liquefy (also liquify), soften
2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
  • pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
Synonyms of harden

fortify, indurate, inure, season, steel, strengthen, toughen
Words Related to harden

acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust

anneal, temper

invigorate, vitalize

immunize

bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support

break in, limber (up), train

accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize
Near Antonyms of harden

emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken

cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate

sensitize
Antonyms of harden

soften
3 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 fishing nets
Synonyms of harden

beef (up), fortify, strengthen, toughen
Words Related to harden

anneal, temper

firm (up), tone (up)

energize, invigorate, vitalize

restrengthen
Near Antonyms of harden

cripple, incapacitate, paralyze

damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure

break down, wear out

sap, undercut, undermine
Antonyms of harden

debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken
4 to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
  • Our government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation.
Synonyms of harden

harshen, stiffen, strengthen, toughen
Near Antonyms of harden

lessen, moderate, soften
Antonyms of harden

ameliorate, ease

Learn More about harden

  1. See words that rhyme with harden Dictionary: Definition of harden Spanish Central: Translation of harden Nglish: Translation of harden for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of harden for Arabic speakers

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