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
Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
By breeding Florida’s hardened survivors with Honduran corals, the scientists hope to create offspring that will carry a new heat-resistant genetic armor for the climate battles ahead.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
And maybe, just maybe, a horseshoe-moustached, hardened rocker with a booming growl will quietly leave a grocery store tomorrow to take his mushroom mocha milk back home.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
The prison houses some of El Salvador's most hardened criminals, including mass murderers and gang members, is renowned for its harsh conditions.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
In one corner is Tamra Judge, the hardened veteran, who is peddling a story about being betrayed by someone on the cast, only to be shocked when only half of the women believe her, given her history of offending everyone and then apologizing for it over the years.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
The film centers on James Kettleman (Holloway), a hardened East Coast businessman who returns to the Montana frontier under the name Flint, the alias of the notorious killer who raised him.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
As a result, the security advantages of a face-to-face working environment, such as monitored devices, secure endpoints and hardened networks, are lost.
—Rob Lydic, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Older animals have a hardened boss, which is where the base of each horn meets on top of their heads, and these big, mature bulls are the ones that are typically hunted.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
None of the six summer arrivals have yet taken English football by storm and Wolves needed at least a couple of players who were battle-hardened in the league.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Kim and his influential sister, Korean Workers' Party Publicity and Information Department Deputy Director Kim Yo Jong, have only hardened their rhetoric against South Korea in recent years, and the North Korean ruler has simultaneously doubled down on nuclear development.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
By the time the true story of Pearl Jam’s name emerged, the story of Grandma Pearl’s hallucinogenic jam had already hardened into fact for most people.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
What began as a gradual shift in late 2023 has, in 2025, hardened into uncompromising policies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Stamp retained his looks as the years ticked by, his natural handsomeness hardened by a more grizzled look.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Dating disappointments have hardened them.
—Tanyel Mustafa, Refinery29, 13 Aug. 2025
Simeone’s men are battle-hardened and should be ready for another test.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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
By breeding Florida’s hardened survivors with Honduran corals, the scientists hope to create offspring that will carry a new heat-resistant genetic armor for the climate battles ahead.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
And maybe, just maybe, a horseshoe-moustached, hardened rocker with a booming growl will quietly leave a grocery store tomorrow to take his mushroom mocha milk back home.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
The prison houses some of El Salvador's most hardened criminals, including mass murderers and gang members, is renowned for its harsh conditions.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
In one corner is Tamra Judge, the hardened veteran, who is peddling a story about being betrayed by someone on the cast, only to be shocked when only half of the women believe her, given her history of offending everyone and then apologizing for it over the years.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
The film centers on James Kettleman (Holloway), a hardened East Coast businessman who returns to the Montana frontier under the name Flint, the alias of the notorious killer who raised him.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
As a result, the security advantages of a face-to-face working environment, such as monitored devices, secure endpoints and hardened networks, are lost.
—Rob Lydic, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Older animals have a hardened boss, which is where the base of each horn meets on top of their heads, and these big, mature bulls are the ones that are typically hunted.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
However, the better individual homes are hardened with flame-resistant siding, roofs, windows and vents, and flammable surrounding items like vegetation, fences and sheds between houses are reduced, the less likely fire will spread from building to building, the study found.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
None of the six summer arrivals have yet taken English football by storm and Wolves needed at least a couple of players who were battle-hardened in the league.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Kim and his influential sister, Korean Workers' Party Publicity and Information Department Deputy Director Kim Yo Jong, have only hardened their rhetoric against South Korea in recent years, and the North Korean ruler has simultaneously doubled down on nuclear development.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
By the time the true story of Pearl Jam’s name emerged, the story of Grandma Pearl’s hallucinogenic jam had already hardened into fact for most people.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
What began as a gradual shift in late 2023 has, in 2025, hardened into uncompromising policies.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Stamp retained his looks as the years ticked by, his natural handsomeness hardened by a more grizzled look.
—Pan Pylas, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Dating disappointments have hardened them.
—Tanyel Mustafa, Refinery29, 13 Aug. 2025
Simeone’s men are battle-hardened and should be ready for another test.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
-
The sturdy steel frame holds up to 650 pounds, while the insulated cup holders cool and keep drinks within reach.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Of all the bad-hair-day culprits, matted hair can be the most stubborn and frustrating.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.—
Zoë Sessums,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lakes froze thick enough to skate across, the air stung sharp in the lungs, and the game every boy seemed to dream about was hockey.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In July, the department also froze and later unfroze $6 billion in education funding meant to go to school programs for vulnerable students.—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The past month has renewed conversations about home rule, which many Democrats believe should be strengthened.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
-
These examples show that more protections need to be established and strengthened, advocates say.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
In addition to adjustable dampers, the Lyriq-V boasts a lowered suspension with components stiffened 10% to 600% from the base Lyriq, which was already a sporty and responsive SUV.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
French Lavender French lavender (Lavandula dentata) is not as hardy as other varieties of lavender, so a vigorous pruning can kill it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Native to central Asia, oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) are perennials that are winter-hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3-7.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
However, her mother is adamant about keeping the canine off the antique chair.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Sandlin was adamant that his engineering team has done everything possible to ensure no adverse impact to neighboring properties.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Reese wants to skip through the rebuilding process, but doing so has already put Chicago in a position in which building a stronger talent base is going to be much more difficult.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Speaking to the crowd before the march, Eve Devitt, an Idaho human rights activist, said that LGBTQ+ history is built on fighting for rights, which makes the community stronger.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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