1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardness
The dye formula may be same, but there are differences in water hardness and minerals.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 July 2025
Side effects can include rash, pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of injection.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 4 July 2025
Minerals like calcium and magnesium can cling to the surface over time, especially in areas with high water hardness.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
What are the limits for softness or hardness or smoothness or other characteristics of the material?
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 July 2025
Side effects can include rash, pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of injection.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 4 July 2025
Minerals like calcium and magnesium can cling to the surface over time, especially in areas with high water hardness.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
What are the limits for softness or hardness or smoothness or other characteristics of the material?
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
Recent aid cuts have deepened hardships for families.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Landslide in western Sudan kills at least 1,000 A landslide in western Sudan killed at least 1,000 people, intensifying hardship in a country besieged by years of civil war.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Quick hits Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan suffered right groin tightness while warming up during Wednesday's game, and the severity of the injury is unclear.—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While the time can vary based on many circumstances such as the type, severity, and location of the bruise, many bruises last for about two weeks.—
Marisa Garshick,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Huger was also the subject of viral bodycam footage that showed her difficulty speaking after the crash and making several statements that confused longtime fans.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The cognitive difficulties are harder to treat, Weinberger said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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