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
-
National data show that Native students face disproportionate barriers in higher education, including financial hardship, geographic isolation, and cultural alienation at mainstream institutions.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Keating faced her own share of hardship.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The severity of droughts, flooding, all of that will get worse.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The severity of a sprain depends on how much of a ligament is torn.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson already faced difficulties getting legislation across the finish line with a razor thin GOP majority.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Financial and legal difficulties have hit the hotel in recent months, including several foreclosure lawsuits.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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