1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
hardened from years of deprivation and grief, the man regarded the house fire as just another misfortune in a life filled with them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
hardened cynics regarded those TV shows as being anything but reality-based
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in froze
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthened
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toughened
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 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
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Recent Examples of hardened
Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
Shockwave makes a catheter that emits localized sonic pressure waves to crack hardened plaque in arteries.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Technology challenges Both these systems are aimed at delivering strategic strike capability for neutralizing high-value, time-sensitive targets such as hardened command and control nodes, integrated air defense systems, and critical infrastructure facilities.
—Adityajadhav, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Joan of Arc armor in the form of hardened corsets, even breastplates, were built into a number of dresses.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2026
Scrape off any hardened grease and wash it with soap and water before your next barbecue session.
—Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 May 2026
With Hathaway as a hardened journalist who haplessly lands herself into the center of a conflict in El Salvador, the film is somewhat at sea, allowing itself and the audience to get swept away by an unmoored plot.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
They were armed with powerful, hardened beaks and likely had high intelligence.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Hot water is especially helpful for greasy pans, oily dishes, or anything with hardened food residue.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Ulven plays Maja with palpable vulnerability and honesty, someone hardened into fragile indifference.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
We are taken through his childhood’s pivotal disillusionment, which hardened him for life.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 May 2026
Though Ono distanced himself from some earlier positions and praised Florida’s higher education reforms, opposition hardened among influential conservatives and members of the Board of Governors.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The reddish-brown mud that smothered Bok Kongphan's Hawaii farm has hardened in the tropical sun.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Franchise art director Rasmus Poulsen has described it as a Bond who has experienced personal tragedy but hasn't yet been hardened by the darker side of spycraft.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Its purpose is to ensure that the questions before state legislators, members of Congress, and federal agencies are the right questions, asked in the right order, before another five hundred bills are introduced and a patchwork is hardened in place that no one designed and few defend.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Scores of hardened, dangerous criminals are being paroled every year thanks to the Massachusetts Parole Board appointed by liberal Democrat Maura Healey.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
Adjective
That means hardened infrastructure, redundant logistics, jointly developed air and missile defenses, more resilient energy systems, and upgrades to pipelines, ports, rail, and trade routes.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
Shockwave makes a catheter that emits localized sonic pressure waves to crack hardened plaque in arteries.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Technology challenges Both these systems are aimed at delivering strategic strike capability for neutralizing high-value, time-sensitive targets such as hardened command and control nodes, integrated air defense systems, and critical infrastructure facilities.
—Adityajadhav, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Joan of Arc armor in the form of hardened corsets, even breastplates, were built into a number of dresses.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2026
Scrape off any hardened grease and wash it with soap and water before your next barbecue session.
—Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 May 2026
With Hathaway as a hardened journalist who haplessly lands herself into the center of a conflict in El Salvador, the film is somewhat at sea, allowing itself and the audience to get swept away by an unmoored plot.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
They were armed with powerful, hardened beaks and likely had high intelligence.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Hot water is especially helpful for greasy pans, oily dishes, or anything with hardened food residue.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Beyond the pumps In addition to pump stations, other spillways would be hardened and gates elevated to prevent overtopping.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Ulven plays Maja with palpable vulnerability and honesty, someone hardened into fragile indifference.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
We are taken through his childhood’s pivotal disillusionment, which hardened him for life.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 May 2026
Though Ono distanced himself from some earlier positions and praised Florida’s higher education reforms, opposition hardened among influential conservatives and members of the Board of Governors.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The reddish-brown mud that smothered Bok Kongphan's Hawaii farm has hardened in the tropical sun.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Franchise art director Rasmus Poulsen has described it as a Bond who has experienced personal tragedy but hasn't yet been hardened by the darker side of spycraft.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Its purpose is to ensure that the questions before state legislators, members of Congress, and federal agencies are the right questions, asked in the right order, before another five hundred bills are introduced and a patchwork is hardened in place that no one designed and few defend.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Scores of hardened, dangerous criminals are being paroled every year thanks to the Massachusetts Parole Board appointed by liberal Democrat Maura Healey.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
-
It’s made with a breathable upper, a double-lace lock that creates a snug fit to prevent your foot from slipping out of the shoe, and a sturdy and durable rubber outsole that can handle frequent use.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
-
So when House lawmakers downstate passed a bill to designate the sturdy yet soggy Italian beef the official state sandwich of Illinois, Zucchero’s brain had to be picked.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images Are Americans finally starting to feel the strain of soaring gas prices and stubborn inflation?—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
-
Treasury yields have gone up in recent months as stubborn inflation reduces the likelihood of Fed rate cuts, Pisula notes, while geopolitical tensions add more long-term risk to rates.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Lake Erie froze solid that year, but Dwight said the toxic sludge at the bottom of the river and the sheen of oil across the top would keep the Cuyahoga from freezing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
The administration invoked a daycare scandal in Minnesota and froze childcare payments to the state in the run-up to a large-scale immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
An historic meeting the president said strengthened ties between the two nations, but which did not produce a major agreement on trade or a commitment from China to help end the war with Iran.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
The country’s residency pathways and growing digital nomad infrastructure have further strengthened its popularity among remote workers and retirees alike.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
His eyes locked to the right, his tiny body stiffened and his face turned red.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
There was a sudden spring shower, which stiffened into rain.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Adored for its almost non-stop flowering, 'Rozanne' boasts showy violet-blue flowers, a unique color among hardy geraniums.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
Despite its tropical look, one hibiscus tree (Rose of Sharon) is cold-hardy and can grow in zones 5 to 9—much farther north than most gardeners expect.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Massie had held firm -- adamant that his constituents would pull through for him.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
Glamour readers were very, very adamant that consent is needed from the group before a new person is added to the chat.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The hovercraft tragedy underscores the rapidly changing weather conditions, dangerous waves and strong winds associated with Lake Baikal, reports indicated.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
Beyond keeping bugs away from your guests and food, the zapper also cuts down on the need for bug sprays, which can leave behind strong smells or residue.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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