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
The material also had to harden with strength similar to natural bone and gradually break down so new bone could replace it.
—
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Here, the situation has changed, leaving many of the gods either hardened or embittered by the conflict.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
One particular way to harden your home involves purchasing smart home systems with features that alert you to major problems.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
But Israeli opposition to a Palestinian state has only hardened since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Here, the situation has changed, leaving many of the gods either hardened or embittered by the conflict.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
One particular way to harden your home involves purchasing smart home systems with features that alert you to major problems.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
But Israeli opposition to a Palestinian state has only hardened since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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Recipe Tips From The Test Kitchen To freeze this dish, let any leftover soup cool completely.—
Elizabeth Mervosh,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
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Early this year, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service assessed the risk from Russia once its Ukraine war stops or freezes in place.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
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Then Philly’s defensive line stiffened, forcing Baker Mayfield into a costly interception near the goal line.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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