harshens

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshens
Verb
  • Besides promoting pain-free movement, building your back muscles strengthens the supporting muscles that aid in posture and stability.
    Leoni Jesner, Health, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Hunt believes his long-standing friendship with Mahomes only strengthens their on-field chemistry.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • High-Cholesterol Foods Foods high in cholesterol can negatively affect blood pressure, contributing to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup that narrows and stiffens the arteries).
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 28 Oct. 2025
  • But the schedule stiffens up next week with the start of 4A South Metro League play as Heritage, Ponderosa and Dakota Ridge all loom in October.
    Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
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

Cite this Entry

“Harshens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshens. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!