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
The presence of an external enemy unifies the security forces, hardens their resolve, prevents defections, and makes internal fractures less likely.
—
Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
The shoots are harvested before the plant hardens into the woody stalks that bamboo is famous for — and that pandas chew.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Then the storm moves on, the sun returns, and the surface hardens again, cracked and chalky, as if the place is trying to erase the evidence that water ever touched it.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
But her attitude toward them eventually hardens.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
The allegations against Brian Jordan Alvarez complicate the experience of enjoying English Teacher, especially in the moments when the show’s breezy tone hardens into dismissiveness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Soft power that hardens into partnerships, pipelines, and actual policy shifts.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
The shoots are harvested before the plant hardens into the woody stalks that bamboo is famous for — and that pandas chew.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Then the storm moves on, the sun returns, and the surface hardens again, cracked and chalky, as if the place is trying to erase the evidence that water ever touched it.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
But her attitude toward them eventually hardens.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
The allegations against Brian Jordan Alvarez complicate the experience of enjoying English Teacher, especially in the moments when the show’s breezy tone hardens into dismissiveness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Soft power that hardens into partnerships, pipelines, and actual policy shifts.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardens
Verb
-
That water then freezes in the atmosphere and falls back down as snow.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
As the inside of the egg freezes and expands, the eggshell can crack and ultimately, make a mess when they're thawed.—
Elissa Robinson,
Detroit Free Press,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Snow is expected to pile up in parts of the southern Appalachians, the Carolinas and southern Virginia late Friday night into Saturday as the storm rapidly strengthens offshore.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Consistent, moderate exercise strengthens the immune system and reduces the frequency and severity of common illnesses.—
Fred Sassani,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
-
The light stiffens and grabs hold of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardens. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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