as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid
clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indurate
Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 24 Jan. 2023
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
Adjective
-
Not many years ago, a ruthless man with an uneasy mind took power in his country and created a cult of personality.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The sequel picks up as Tyler Rake, back from the brink of death, gets hired to rescue a ruthless gangster’s family from prison.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once a creditor clears the legal prerequisites, nothing prevents them from simultaneously directing a writ to your employer to garnish your wages and a separate writ to your bank to freeze the cash in your account.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Of course, most job hunters at the time felt as though the job market was frozen solid.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zelenskyy didn't identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defense systems.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
If activity strengthens unexpectedly, the glow could extend farther south into states such as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, though the best chances remain closer to the Canadian border.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Except every movie tends to get five buckets, while the rest of their time curdles into Tim sharing too much about his personal life as Gregg stares on, his stony, Buster Keaton-like face saying nothing and everything.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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That same stony resistance stymied Henry’s next attempt at commercial success, a parasol with a snap-on cover that could be changed to match a woman’s outfit.—
Shoshi Parks,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The work only repaired and hardened about 10% of what was lost.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But Iran, which watched the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein next door, has been hardening its regime ever since.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.—
Ryan Brennan
April 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The end was swift and merciless.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials this year have increased restrictions on flying drones and stiffened the penalties for their unauthorized use—including jail time.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Say the hard truth gently, then listen fully.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2026
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That’s so cold, in fact, that water there is like rock here on Earth, as hard as granite.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indurate. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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