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
Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Phrynoderma Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a skin condition called phrynoderma, a type of follicular hyperkeratosis that causes small, hardened bumps on areas of the body such as the shoulders, buttocks, elbows, and knees.
—Laura Schober, Health, 25 Sep. 2025
The series Witsec follows a DOJ lawyer and a hardened mob hitman, both fed up with the corrupt institutions around them, who form a precarious alliance to convict criminal titans and save lives in the rogue origins of the Witness Protection Program.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
For example, the military's ultra-hardened Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites in geosynchronous orbit are designed to operate through an electromagnetic pulse and nuclear scintillation.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
The hardened sediment largely contained the mineral brucite — created through alkaline waste interacting with magnesium in the ocean water that resulted in the crust-like surface surrounding the barrels.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
The missile’s low-G launch from the cannon avoids the need for hardened components, while a rocket motor accelerates it to low supersonic speeds.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Lighthouse station California’s Central Coast may no longer have active volcanoes, but there is plenty of evidence of ancient volcanic activity, from plugs like Morro Rock (the hardened interior of a former volcano) to stacks (islands formed from eroded volcanic rock).
—A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Whether those capabilities can be extended and hardened for long hours and high-stakes industrial settings remains to be seen.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The waterless Wadi Hammamat between the Nile and the Red Sea was quarried for the siltstone formed from ancient river sediment that had hardened over millions of years to provide a limitless supply of stone coffins (sarcophagi).
—Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
Transfer, uncovered, to freezer; freeze until hardened, about 15 minutes.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 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
Few have no opinion of her anymore; stances have hardened in hindsight.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Perceptions of the economy's direction have hardened, too.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Orbiting spacecraft flagged these ridges as possibly being created by mineral-rich fluids long ago, which hardened some portions more than others.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Pueblo police began investigating the case in January 2024 after someone called 911 about a suspicious metal container filled with hardened concrete in a storage unit in the 600 block of West Sixth Street.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Phrynoderma Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a skin condition called phrynoderma, a type of follicular hyperkeratosis that causes small, hardened bumps on areas of the body such as the shoulders, buttocks, elbows, and knees.
—Laura Schober, Health, 25 Sep. 2025
The series Witsec follows a DOJ lawyer and a hardened mob hitman, both fed up with the corrupt institutions around them, who form a precarious alliance to convict criminal titans and save lives in the rogue origins of the Witness Protection Program.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
For example, the military's ultra-hardened Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites in geosynchronous orbit are designed to operate through an electromagnetic pulse and nuclear scintillation.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
The hardened sediment largely contained the mineral brucite — created through alkaline waste interacting with magnesium in the ocean water that resulted in the crust-like surface surrounding the barrels.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
The missile’s low-G launch from the cannon avoids the need for hardened components, while a rocket motor accelerates it to low supersonic speeds.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Lighthouse station California’s Central Coast may no longer have active volcanoes, but there is plenty of evidence of ancient volcanic activity, from plugs like Morro Rock (the hardened interior of a former volcano) to stacks (islands formed from eroded volcanic rock).
—A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Here, the situation has changed, leaving many of the gods either hardened or embittered by the conflict.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Whether those capabilities can be extended and hardened for long hours and high-stakes industrial settings remains to be seen.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The waterless Wadi Hammamat between the Nile and the Red Sea was quarried for the siltstone formed from ancient river sediment that had hardened over millions of years to provide a limitless supply of stone coffins (sarcophagi).
—Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
Transfer, uncovered, to freezer; freeze until hardened, about 15 minutes.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 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
Few have no opinion of her anymore; stances have hardened in hindsight.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Perceptions of the economy's direction have hardened, too.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Orbiting spacecraft flagged these ridges as possibly being created by mineral-rich fluids long ago, which hardened some portions more than others.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
-
No matter what someone’s day entails, a sturdy tote bag is sure to come in handy.—
L. Daniela Alvarez,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Sep. 2025
-
If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, these small canines are energetic, bold and stubborn.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Both options meant navigating some stubborn supporters.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The government shutdown that began this week furloughed thousands of federal workers, froze essential government functions across the nation — and also halted an essential part of Florida’s booming real estate market.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Braun administration froze this organization's funds during the audit, but last week the IEDC board voted to allow Elevate to resume its investment activity.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Consumer spending has continued to prove resilient, and business investment, far from retreating, has strengthened in sectors tied to artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and manufacturing reshoring.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Abuja published guidance on how the private sector should work with government agencies to tackle financial crimes, and Pretoria has strengthened legislation on the disclosure of beneficial ownership for companies and trusts.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Most varieties are hardy in Zones 5-9, and some, like English lavender, can handle extreme cold and harsh winter weather.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Warm-weather plants, like peppers, should only be planted outdoors after your last frost date of spring, but cold-hardy crops, like brassicas, can be planted earlier.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To their credit, Wild GM Bill Guerin and owner Craig Leipold were adamant that wasn’t going to happen and got a deal done.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
His family, as well as his legal team, are adamant that Combs has been rehabilitated and should be released.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, while vision isn’t their strongest sense, dogs may even be able to see certain aspects of a TV show.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The young right-hander put together a strong season, but few were better after the All-Star break.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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