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
Leaders start trusting that past wins will carry them forward, and the trust hardens into something that no longer gets examined.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The process relies on urushi, a natural lacquer derived from tree sap that hardens over time into a durable, food-safe coating.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Tissue culture is a cloning process where, for orchids, shoot tips and axillary or side buds are sterilized and placed on agar — a jelly-like material that hardens into a firm gel — that contains plant nutrients and hormones.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Traditional bridge construction in Iran, Oman, and Afghanistan often involved the use of sarooj, a special hydraulic mortar (a mortar that hardens on contact with water) made of lime, clay, sand, and, in some recipes, gypsum.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Lightly scrub grout or tile lines before buildup hardens further.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Whether schools catch up, whether employers reverse the junior hiring freeze, and whether Washington produces anything resembling a workforce policy will determine whether the current anxiety hardens into something permanent.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Gulf’s stance hardens There have been strong signs that the Gulf’s collective patience has been wearing thin.
—Holly Ellyatt,emma Graham, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
His turn into villainy is trickier, yet Gosling hardens his voice and his gaze and successfully spars with the murderer’s row of Giamatti, Clooney, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The process relies on urushi, a natural lacquer derived from tree sap that hardens over time into a durable, food-safe coating.
—Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Tissue culture is a cloning process where, for orchids, shoot tips and axillary or side buds are sterilized and placed on agar — a jelly-like material that hardens into a firm gel — that contains plant nutrients and hormones.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Traditional bridge construction in Iran, Oman, and Afghanistan often involved the use of sarooj, a special hydraulic mortar (a mortar that hardens on contact with water) made of lime, clay, sand, and, in some recipes, gypsum.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Lightly scrub grout or tile lines before buildup hardens further.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Whether schools catch up, whether employers reverse the junior hiring freeze, and whether Washington produces anything resembling a workforce policy will determine whether the current anxiety hardens into something permanent.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Gulf’s stance hardens There have been strong signs that the Gulf’s collective patience has been wearing thin.
—Holly Ellyatt,emma Graham, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
His turn into villainy is trickier, yet Gosling hardens his voice and his gaze and successfully spars with the murderer’s row of Giamatti, Clooney, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardens
Verb
-
The surface freezes first, and the sheet thickens downward.—
Deena Theresa,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
The largest region that produces winter wheat -- the Great Plains stretching from Montana to Texas -- has been hit the hardest by drought as well as some spring freezes, Rippey added.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
All that support undoubtedly strengthens a campaign.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Landing the greatest shooter in NBA history gives Li-Ning a marquee athlete and further strengthens China's growing presence in the league.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Golden State’s schedule stiffens with an upcoming trip to New York and Indiana.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
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The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardens. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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