1
as in freezing
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stiffening
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hardening
Though most plants are ready to go outdoors in four to six weeks, factor in time for hardening off your plants, which takes seven to 14 days as seedlings are gradually exposed to outdoor temperatures, sunlight, wind, and rain to avoid shock.
—
Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, Trump’s efforts to push Powell out of his office could backfire, hardening the position of other Fed officials at a time when the president continues to push for lower rates.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had been trying to ease anger before the demonstrations exploded in recent days, offered a hardening tone in an interview aired Sunday.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Propose a clear boundary with a sibling (or close friend) to stop resentment from hardening.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
In the meantime, Trump’s efforts to push Powell out of his office could backfire, hardening the position of other Fed officials at a time when the president continues to push for lower rates.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had been trying to ease anger before the demonstrations exploded in recent days, offered a hardening tone in an interview aired Sunday.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Propose a clear boundary with a sibling (or close friend) to stop resentment from hardening.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
-
Prepare to be greeted by freezing temperatures and piles of grimy snow and slush crowding the sidewalks.—
Hilary Milnes,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That translates to around 41 fewer days below freezing each year.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The collaboration between Fincantieri and Generative Bionics also holds strategic importance in strengthening European technological sovereignty by drawing on expertise developed across research institutions and the advanced industrial supply chain.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The audit also recommends the city aim to boost the value of its golf properties by strengthening its evaluations of course operators, studying revenue trends, inspecting courses more frequently and requiring operators to pay for renovations.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
These include stiffening of blood vessels, changes in heart muscle function and impaired ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to exertion.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
