as in to strengthen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders
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Recent Examples of harshen
The mayor's new legislative effort will also seek to harshen penalties for firearms and ghost guns, officials said Monday.
—
Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 15 May 2023
Seven Memphis police officers were fired in the wake of Nichols' death, which sparked national uproar and harshened the spotlight on police brutality.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 May 2023
With the news of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s historic indictment of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up other crimes this April, the spotlight on the Justice Department has harshened.
—Hannah Story Brown, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2023
Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy.
—Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022
Arizona activists have renewed their focus and condemnation on a bill that would harshen penalties for various crimes committed during an unlawful assembly following the three guilty verdicts against former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2021
As time goes on, more voters could harshen their view of Biden, as all of these problems are under his tent now.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 24 Feb. 2021
The impetus for the line came not just from the rise of the ingredient-conscious consumer, but also in response to the ever-harshening realities of modern life.
—Rebecca Dancer, Allure, 13 Dec. 2019
Protests by tens of thousands before the election and on the eve of his inauguration lead to legislation harshening penalties for unauthorized political protests.
—Fox News, 18 Mar. 2018
Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 15 May 2023
Seven Memphis police officers were fired in the wake of Nichols' death, which sparked national uproar and harshened the spotlight on police brutality.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 May 2023
With the news of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s historic indictment of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up other crimes this April, the spotlight on the Justice Department has harshened.
—Hannah Story Brown, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2023
Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy.
—Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022
Arizona activists have renewed their focus and condemnation on a bill that would harshen penalties for various crimes committed during an unlawful assembly following the three guilty verdicts against former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2021
As time goes on, more voters could harshen their view of Biden, as all of these problems are under his tent now.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 24 Feb. 2021
The impetus for the line came not just from the rise of the ingredient-conscious consumer, but also in response to the ever-harshening realities of modern life.
—Rebecca Dancer, Allure, 13 Dec. 2019
Protests by tens of thousands before the election and on the eve of his inauguration lead to legislation harshening penalties for unauthorized political protests.
—Fox News, 18 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshen
Verb
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Denmark will also tighten controls on foreigners without legal residence, introduce a new anklet monitor for criminal foreigners, reopen an embassy in Syria and strengthen cooperation with authorities in Afghanistan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Snow is expected to pile up in parts of the southern Appalachians, the Carolinas and southern Virginia late Friday night into Saturday as the storm rapidly strengthens offshore.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Extra material had been sewn into the crotch to stiffen and add surface area that would help during takeoff.—
Brian Melley,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Spending more time indoors often means moving less, and inactivity can lead joints to stiffen over time.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshen. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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