1
as in freezing
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 strengthening
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 toughening
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 stiffening
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 hardening
Clinker consists predominantly of calcium silicate minerals known as alite and belite, compounds largely responsible for cement’s strength and hardening behavior.
—
New Atlas, 26 May 2026
That means repairing seawalls and bolstering shorelines, restoring wetlands, improving stormwater management and drainage, ensuring clean lakes, hardening infrastructure, and keeping homes and roadways out of the water.
—Anna V. Eskamani, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Florida’s aging condominiums that are now undergoing mandatory structural inspections and receiving insurance discounts for storm-hardening improvements are going to continue implementing major repairs and renovations for the foreseeable future.
—Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
But recent days have seen the ominous appearance of public gun kiosks, where civilians are being offered basic lessons in using weapons – a sign of how the hardening Iranian authorities are readying people for further conflict.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
New Atlas, 26 May 2026
That means repairing seawalls and bolstering shorelines, restoring wetlands, improving stormwater management and drainage, ensuring clean lakes, hardening infrastructure, and keeping homes and roadways out of the water.
—Anna V. Eskamani, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Florida’s aging condominiums that are now undergoing mandatory structural inspections and receiving insurance discounts for storm-hardening improvements are going to continue implementing major repairs and renovations for the foreseeable future.
—Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
But recent days have seen the ominous appearance of public gun kiosks, where civilians are being offered basic lessons in using weapons – a sign of how the hardening Iranian authorities are readying people for further conflict.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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Instead, anglers should kill the fish by freezing it or placing it on ice for an extended period, the agency states.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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Locally temperatures may drop to near or just below freezing early Wednesday morning.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
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On Wednesday, Raman said her administration would focus on lowering housing costs, protecting renters, reducing homelessness, improving city services, strengthening emergency response systems, supporting small businesses and fighting to retain jobs in the entertainment industry.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
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The Putah Fire in Yolo County reached 45% containment Wednesday afternoon as firefighters reported no significant new growth and continued strengthening containment lines as red flag conditions moved in, Cal Fire said in an update Wednesday afternoon.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand has lost much of its luster in recent years, dragged down by trade tariffs, stiffening competition and a patchy electric-vehicle roster.—
William Wilkes,
Bloomberg,
8 June 2026
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Chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, stiffening them and increasing resistance.—
Jennifer Berger,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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