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
Rinse the sink basin to prevent toothpaste and soap residue from hardening.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
When conditions are right for hardening off and planting your seedlings, continue to monitor weather conditions.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
And top Democrats are hardening their opposition.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
When conditions are right for hardening off and planting your seedlings, continue to monitor weather conditions.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
And top Democrats are hardening their opposition.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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That meant an overnight stay on the mountain in freezing conditions.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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While some lavender species, such as English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), can tolerate cold temperatures, most varieties will suffer when exposed to consistent winds and freezing conditions.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its long-term goal is to create a market for film rights to adaptations of literary works from the region, thereby strengthening cooperation between the film and book industries.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
6 May 2026
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Beau founded the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center, which aimed to get kids involved in outdoor activities while strengthening their connection to nature and wildlife.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
6 May 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 13 May. 2026.
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