1
as in freezes
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 strengthens
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 toughens
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 stiffens
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation
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Recent Examples of hardens
When a partner continually feels trapped behind excuses or counterattacks, the original frustration then hardens into resentment.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But as Beijing hardens its ties with Russia, North Korea and other nations unfriendly to the West, the emergence of two camps and the contest between them appears clearer than ever.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Veith realized this reversible property, known as shear thickening, could be used to create a protective additive that instantly hardens under impact, dramatically reducing the risk of fires in lithium-ion batteries.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025
Uniting Prevention and Detection Traditional cybersecurity strategies often treat prevention and detection as separate undertakings—one team hardens systems to repel threats, while another prepares to identify and respond to breaches that slip through the cracks.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Another approach involves injecting the material directly into the deficit, in the form of a gel that subsequently hardens into a solid.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2025
Seeing and decrying enemies at every turn inevitably hardens those opponents against you.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Cancer Black Moon Lilith in Cancer hardens their heart as a form of emotional protection.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But as Beijing hardens its ties with Russia, North Korea and other nations unfriendly to the West, the emergence of two camps and the contest between them appears clearer than ever.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Veith realized this reversible property, known as shear thickening, could be used to create a protective additive that instantly hardens under impact, dramatically reducing the risk of fires in lithium-ion batteries.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025
Uniting Prevention and Detection Traditional cybersecurity strategies often treat prevention and detection as separate undertakings—one team hardens systems to repel threats, while another prepares to identify and respond to breaches that slip through the cracks.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Another approach involves injecting the material directly into the deficit, in the form of a gel that subsequently hardens into a solid.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2025
Seeing and decrying enemies at every turn inevitably hardens those opponents against you.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Cancer Black Moon Lilith in Cancer hardens their heart as a form of emotional protection.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardens
Verb
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But even this nod to forgiveness is relatively punishing, since the health refill freezes your character in a defenseless pose for a few seconds.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
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This allows roots to establish while the soil is still warm but air temperatures are cooling, before the ground freezes, which reduces stress.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the end, whether this designation strengthens national unity or deepens cultural divides will depend less on what the law says and more on how the nation chooses to live it out.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Carry This entails holding weight while walking, which helps to improve posture and stability, strengthens grip, and works the shoulders, upper back, core and hips.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardens. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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