indurate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈin-də-rət How to pronounce indurate (audio)
Definition of induratenext
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

indurate

2 of 2

verb

ˈin-də-ˌrāt How to pronounce indurate (audio)
1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of indurate
Adjective
His characters strive to achieve things—such as love, self-command, or financial success—but those efforts are made ironic in the face of a world that, while sometimes beautiful to look at, remains indurate to human happiness. — Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 24 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indurate
  1. ruthless
  2. freeze
  3. strengthen
  4. stony
  5. harden
  6. merciless
  7. stiffen
  8. hard
Adjective
  • When his inquiry leads directly to a ruthless corporate chairman played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, the two seasoned operators become locked in a battle of wits.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Joe has always been ruthless, but never quite as tunnel-visioned in her motivations.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Verb
  • As a result of the layoffs and mass cancellation of contracts in early 2025, millions of NIH websites have been effectively frozen for nearly 18 months.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Cuts are planned to come, in part, from freezing wages for public sector workers like teachers.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • The brand is best known for its bestselling $38 HoliRoots Hair Oil, which features ingredients such as ashwagandha, dashmool and castor oil to strengthen strands and promote hair growth.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Zachary Krevor, Stratolaunch’s president and CEO, said the 777 will strengthen the company’s ability to meet customer demand.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of strengthen
Adjective
  • Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.
    — Emily Cox, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
  • Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.
    — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Definition of stony
Verb
  • European countries have hardened their stance against Chinese imports over fears that an influx of goods like solar panels and EVs could hollow out the bloc’s industries.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The incident could further inflame tensions between the Koreas, which have no working military hotlines or other emergency communications channels as North Korea hardens its stance toward Seoul while expanding its military nuclear program.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of harden
Adjective
  • Cora, the granddaughter of a woman kidnapped from West Africa and sold into slavery, flees her captor’s plantation, plunging her into the book’s alternate steampunk reality where she is pursued by the merciless slave catcher Ridgeway.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But the movie very much belongs to Trinca and Bruni Tedeschi, just as Anna belongs to the merciless stranger.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of merciless
Verb
  • Avoiding harsh chemicals like bleach, fabric softeners, and the like will help keep your robe soft and absorbent as these formulas could break down the fabric, leave behind fabric-stiffening residue, or cause pilling and other concerns.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Davidsen bucks up her balky husband with a bloodthirsty holler, stiffens her voice against doubt, and, in her final sleepwalking scene, taps into the tender stratum of Lady Macbeth’s subconscious.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of stiffen
Adjective
  • Upstairs, on the top floor, the bar serves vintage hard-to-get champagne and spirits by the glass.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • When transitioning from hard flooring to rugs or carpets, the system automatically adjusts suction levels and modifies its brush roll behavior to maximize particle pickup while preventing hair entanglements around the main rollers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

indulging (in)
indurate
indurated
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Cite this Entry

“Indurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indurate. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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