harshens

verb

present tense third-person singular of harshen
as in strengthens
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshens
  1. strengthens
  2. stiffens
Verb
  • Temperatures are expected to gradually ease heading into the weekend as the onshore flow strengthens and cloud cover increases, although conditions are expected to remain above normal through at least Friday, forecasters said.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 15 July 2026
  • This additional detention capacity strengthens ICE's ability to implement the Administration's immigration enforcement priorities, restore integrity to the nation's immigration system, and protect public safety.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of strengthens
Verb
  • For seven-and-a-half years, Ladd had dealt with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease that stiffens and scars the lungs.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 June 2026
  • To execute its ruthless 66-pound weight loss program, the rear seats have been completely deleted, replaced by a massive structural strut brace that significantly stiffens the chassis.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Definition of stiffens
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

harshening
harshens
harshly
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Cite this Entry

“Harshens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshens. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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