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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of harden
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
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Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Baby corals, which start their lives swimming in the ocean, need a bit of bare rock to grow on and harden into adults.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 8 Oct. 2024
But in recent years, attitudes toward Jews have appeared to harden in some French minds.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2024
In plaster casting, the plaster is soft before hardening in the form.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harden 
Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Baby corals, which start their lives swimming in the ocean, need a bit of bare rock to grow on and harden into adults.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 8 Oct. 2024
But in recent years, attitudes toward Jews have appeared to harden in some French minds.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2024
In plaster casting, the plaster is soft before hardening in the form.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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However, Boeing refused to meet strikers’ demand to restore a company pension plan that was frozen nearly a decade ago.David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
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Place them back on the baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes to firm up the chocolate.Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Loading your audio article California air quality regulators late Friday approved a plan to strengthen limits on the planet-warming emissions from gasoline and diesel fuels, a move expected to raise gas prices while bringing public health benefits.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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The measures regarding strengthening rent control protections and charter cleanup items garnered more support from voters, according to early results.Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Certainly, the competition level stiffened recently with Indiana and Ohio State handing the Cornhuskers losses in their two most recent games.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
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Once the lens stiffens, it cannot be made more supple again.Maxine Lipner, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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