1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
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2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
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3
as in to toughen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
arm muscles that were hardened by all the years of casting and hauling his fishing nets
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4
as in to stiffen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harden
Flashes of orange lava leaked through the seafloor before hardening in the freezing water, indicating an eruption was taking place.
—
Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
After two years of war, fault lines have hardened, and divides have become more emotional.
—Mai Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025
Given the hardening politics in both countries around the trade war, even this modest set of outcomes might seem out of reach.
—Ryan Hass, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
This will keep gloves from hardening and extend their life.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
After two years of war, fault lines have hardened, and divides have become more emotional.
—Mai Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025
Given the hardening politics in both countries around the trade war, even this modest set of outcomes might seem out of reach.
—Ryan Hass, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
This will keep gloves from hardening and extend their life.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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Amid Trump's second presidential term, James has continued her legal challenges, filing lawsuits to block the administration's efforts to end birthright citizenship and freeze federal grants, which the courts have halted.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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In many ways, this village felt as if it was frozen in time, only a ringing clocktower bell served as a reminder of every passing hour.—
Daria Bachmann,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The Coursera report found that 96% of employers agree that micro-credentials strengthen a candidate's job application, and 85% are more likely to hire a candidate with a micro-credential than one without.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Which areas are Spurs likely to want to strengthen this summer?—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Lucy’s Law, among other things, stiffens the penalties for seriously injuring someone in a boat crash.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2025
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Posture And Mobility: Undoing The Sedentary Spiral Extended sitting does more than stiffen your spine.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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