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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardens
With Ciri missing and Vilgefortz still at large, Yennefer’s ambition hardens into purpose.
—
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The confession struck him as both raw and deeply tragic, a glimpse of how ambition hardens into captivity.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Another team hardens those that show promise, building in compliance and integration from the beginning.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The confession struck him as both raw and deeply tragic, a glimpse of how ambition hardens into captivity.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Another team hardens those that show promise, building in compliance and integration from the beginning.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardens
Verb
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Bury the edge of a wire cage a couple of inches below the soil, which is much easier to do before the ground freezes.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
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That’s because rent freezes discourage housing construction, leading to scarcity, crumbling buildings and higher prices over time.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Key Takeaways Calcium builds and strengthens bones, while vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
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Perhaps witnessing that transformation strengthens its usefulness to others.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The light stiffens and grabs hold of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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High-Cholesterol Foods Foods high in cholesterol can negatively affect blood pressure, contributing to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup that narrows and stiffens the arteries).—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardens. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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