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
Saline rinses at the first sign of congestion can prevent mouth breathing from hardening into habit.
—
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
But before transplanting, your plants will need time to adjust—this process is called hardening off.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
Start hardening off plants one week before transplanting out into the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The Defense Department released a blueprint in January for hardening bases against drones that slip past air defenses, outlining measures for commanders, including netting to trap or prematurely detonate incoming drones and additional hardened overhead cover.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
But before transplanting, your plants will need time to adjust—this process is called hardening off.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
Start hardening off plants one week before transplanting out into the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The Defense Department released a blueprint in January for hardening bases against drones that slip past air defenses, outlining measures for commanders, including netting to trap or prematurely detonate incoming drones and additional hardened overhead cover.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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The xenon flash does a better job of freezing motion when compared with an LED.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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Another necessity is more adaptive insurance that can price in novel risks without completely freezing up, as has happened in the strait.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ahead of this system on Thursday, southwest winds will be strengthening across the region.—
Dave Aguilera,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The state has been strengthening fire safety standards, specifically with the passage of Assembly Bill 3074 in 2020 and Senate Bill 504 in 2024, which direct residents to create an ember-resistant defensible space zone within the first 5 feet surrounding a structure, also known as Zone 0.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
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The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, Karel Havlicek, minister for industry and trade, told us.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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