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
Known for its hardness and high melting point, petalite is already valued in heat- and scratch-resistant glass and ceramics.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
In one-of-a-kind high-jewelry chokers and necklaces, the design is rendered in black diamond-like carbon, or DLC—a high-tech material known for its exceptional hardness and scratch-resistance that is often used in watchmaking—and combined with diamonds and yellow gold for an avant-garde look.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026
This tiny snail’s shell combines hardness, toughness and energy dissipation in a way that very few single-phase materials can.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This included changing characteristics like the planets' sizes, the speed of their rotation, their internal heating, and the hardness of rotating fluid within their vortices.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
In one-of-a-kind high-jewelry chokers and necklaces, the design is rendered in black diamond-like carbon, or DLC—a high-tech material known for its exceptional hardness and scratch-resistance that is often used in watchmaking—and combined with diamonds and yellow gold for an avant-garde look.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026
This tiny snail’s shell combines hardness, toughness and energy dissipation in a way that very few single-phase materials can.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This included changing characteristics like the planets' sizes, the speed of their rotation, their internal heating, and the hardness of rotating fluid within their vortices.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
Despite the hardship, life on the windswept isle seems idyllic.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Students lost out on face time with instructors, their mental health suffered in the isolation and their well-being deteriorated as some families endured hardship.—
Moriah Balingit,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following the tornado watch, the weather service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday evening, each varying in timeframe and potential severity.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Their targets appeared overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the offensive.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Washington, the House and Senate postponed votes because of difficulty traveling during inclement weather, and federal agencies told workers to go home early.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Castro said the difficulty of adjusting could become clearer with time.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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