as in strengthened
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshened
Verb
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The law must be strengthened further to ensure that, in the future, gross negligence, reckless storage of remains and even improper co-mingling of remains can be criminally charged from the onset, and carry real sentences with the potential for actual jail time.—
Vaughan Bagley,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2026 -
Donora thus laid the groundwork for the Clean Air Act, the federal air pollution law initially enacted in 1963, then strengthened in 1970 and again in 1990.—
Ella Whitman,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the deputies put him back into the chair, Mitchell’s body stiffened, with his legs straight in front of him and his head lolling back.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Democrats in Congress stiffened their opposition to an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a partial government shutdown.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
21 Feb. 2026
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“Harshened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshened. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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