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
And while the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stood defiant and unmoved by the hardening stance against it, the blowback against its citizens is certainly being felt.
—
Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
Begin hardening off the tomato seedlings a couple of weeks before the frost date in your geographical region.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
That statistic should serve as a wake-up call for any organization still focused on hardening its networks while neglecting the individuals who interact with them.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This means hardening or abandoning coastal areas, developing crops that are resistant to droughts and extreme heat, building systems that can help farmers predict extreme weather, and finding new ways to conserve and reuse water.
—Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
Begin hardening off the tomato seedlings a couple of weeks before the frost date in your geographical region.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
That statistic should serve as a wake-up call for any organization still focused on hardening its networks while neglecting the individuals who interact with them.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This means hardening or abandoning coastal areas, developing crops that are resistant to droughts and extreme heat, building systems that can help farmers predict extreme weather, and finding new ways to conserve and reuse water.
—Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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Those weeks saw students, pensioners, veterans, doctors and teachers stand in freezing temperatures around giant stages, teaching politicians that this was not a crowd to lead, but one to follow.—
Nick Spicer,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
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These smaller varieties are well-suited for container growing because of their compact growth habit and smaller blooms, but pots don’t provide insulation against freezing temperatures, so special care will need to be taken.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Takaichi, a hard-line conservative who’s cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her hero, has called for strengthening Japan’s military, and taking a tougher stance against China and North Korea.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Beyond transactions, New World Realty remains active in charitable initiatives and local events, strengthening the ties that have defined its legacy for more than three decades.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Afterwards, a squaring solution—a powdery mixture of water and a gel-like batter used in the decorative cake business—is applied to the inside of the hat’s crown to act as a stiffening agent.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
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China has been a consistent source of stress for Apple, given the stiffening smartphone competition and its huge manufacturing presence in the country.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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