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
Safeguarding training data from tampering and hardening AI models against adversarial attacks ensures that your organization’s decision-making processes remain uncompromised.
—
Nick Raziborsky, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Residents can use the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Ready for Wildfire web page to learn how to prepare for fire season; create and maintain defensible space and home hardening strategies; develop evacuation plans and plans for returning home after a wildfire.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025
Start hardening off plants one week before transplanting out into the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Preparing For Planting Tomato transplants, whether purchased from the store or grown from seed, require a period of hardening off before they are planted in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Nick Raziborsky, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Residents can use the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Ready for Wildfire web page to learn how to prepare for fire season; create and maintain defensible space and home hardening strategies; develop evacuation plans and plans for returning home after a wildfire.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025
Start hardening off plants one week before transplanting out into the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
Preparing For Planting Tomato transplants, whether purchased from the store or grown from seed, require a period of hardening off before they are planted in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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Birth tissue-products are stored at below freezing temperatures to retain their viability and effectiveness and are also shipped in special containers.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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She was heavily criticized for being out of the country when the fire exploded amid dire wind warnings and for freezing up when confronted by press about her absence.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This means not only strengthening technical defenses but also fostering a culture of security awareness at every level.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
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This dynamic fosters mutual respect and curiosity, strengthening the overall mentorship culture within the organization.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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