hardened 1 of 2

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hardened

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verb

past tense of harden
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as in stiffened
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 hardened
Verb
March 27 is an opportunity to dissolve barriers between the heart and the soul, and to soften the edges where hurt has hardened us. Colin Bedell, Them, 20 Mar. 2025 The company doesn't say if the glass is hardened against breakage like Gorilla Glass. PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025 European colonial rule hardened the distinction. Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025 Once hardened to the surface, that polymerized layer feels impossible to remove. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025 Drones and conventional missiles fired from long range cannot carry the large payloads required to significantly damage hardened or sprawling targets like the ones in Yemen. Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025 Canadians at first reacted to tariffs with icy fear, but that has hardened into anger and resolve. Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025 As the two sides hardened their bargaining positions, Israel shut off all food and other aid entering the strip Sunday, saying its obligations expired with the end of the first ceasefire stage. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025 Apple products are not affected by the attack, but even so, the company hardened the Find My network to resist this kind of attack. David Phelan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
  • For your safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
  • The paddles are crafted with a sturdy, lightweight design suitable for players just starting and looking to develop their skills.
    Jené Luciani Sena may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 17 May 2025
  • When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.
    William Jones, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • When the property bubble burst and prices began to fall amid a broader economic slowdown, the market froze, leaving many of these units unoccupied.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The government initially froze all these grants and contracts.
    Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The first direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time, according to the report.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Dubai Duty Free also strengthened its senior management team with eight senior managers appointed to key roles, including seven UAE nationals.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The fisherman aesthetic, a modern and trendy take on nautical design, offers cool colors and hardy materials (like wood and stone) with an emphasis on creating cozy spots to lounge.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
  • As usual, his Ethan Hunt is muscular, hardy, game for anything.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The chairman was adamant this bill can still pass by Johnson's goal of Memorial Day.
    Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 May 2025
  • Valli remains adamant about the importance of fashion as escapism.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • While Broadcom’s financial success since acquiring VMware suggests that its business plan will remain steadfast, sending cease-and-desist letters to VMware users risks further harming its reputation with current and former customers.
    Scharon Harding – May 7, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
  • Their team walks clients through every step, offering open communication, empathy, and steadfast support throughout the process.
    Ascend Agency, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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