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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardness
The grounds crew tests soil moisture content, court hardness wear and plant chlorophyll levels to dictate evening watering amounts.
—
Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
As such, prolonged use may reduce the surface hardness of tooth enamel.2
Studies in which hydrogen peroxide was used daily for up to six years in concentrations of 3% or less have reported only occasional and temporary irritation in the mouth.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 May 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
Generally speaking, high-quality Western knives have 59-62 HRC, a measurement of the hardness of materials, whereas Japanese knives’ HRC ranges from 60 to 65.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
As such, prolonged use may reduce the surface hardness of tooth enamel.2
Studies in which hydrogen peroxide was used daily for up to six years in concentrations of 3% or less have reported only occasional and temporary irritation in the mouth.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 May 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
Generally speaking, high-quality Western knives have 59-62 HRC, a measurement of the hardness of materials, whereas Japanese knives’ HRC ranges from 60 to 65.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
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But truthfully, through the hardships come new outlooks, gratitude, positivity, and a freeing new way to see life.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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While death in any case is a tragedy, it’s exacerbated by the complexities of youth, as yet another issue young people have to grapple with along with the normal hardships of growing up, navigating your identity and trying to fit in.—
Katherine Singh,
Refinery29,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While there are no over-the-counter medications to treat coccidioidomycosis, ODH notes that healthcare professionals may prescribe antifungal medication to help reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent the infection from getting worse.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Aug. 2025
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Depending on the location and severity of the wildfire, smaller events such as sports games could be moved to another field or rescheduled for a future date, Wolski said.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The cause, as many re counted, was not bound in the way of private, but having taken up the same day in the day of Lord Palmerston, the public will receive a short statement of the difficulties under which the day of law has reached us.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 Aug. 2025
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Strategic Investment Is The Key Implementing truly effective cyber hygiene training programs can present challenges, including organizational resistance to change, resource constraints and the difficulty of seamlessly integrating training into daily operations.—
Saakshar Duggal,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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