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
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative bloc that won this month's election, also hardened his position on immigration, tilting toward the AfD platform and stirring fear among Germany's left of a coming coalition between the far- and moderate-right.
—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Already, Russia appears to be hardening its stance: Moscow has ruled out any peacekeepers from NATO-member countries in monitoring any peace settlement.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025
More frequent and severe disasters are forcing local governments to spend more on infrastructure — like sea walls, storm pumps, and hardening critical facilities — services that are funded largely through property taxes.
—Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
But that strife has hardened her, and the woman holding the gun this time is more stoic about her kill.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Already, Russia appears to be hardening its stance: Moscow has ruled out any peacekeepers from NATO-member countries in monitoring any peace settlement.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025
More frequent and severe disasters are forcing local governments to spend more on infrastructure — like sea walls, storm pumps, and hardening critical facilities — services that are funded largely through property taxes.
—Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
But that strife has hardened her, and the woman holding the gun this time is more stoic about her kill.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
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Along with the threat of wildfires, other parts of the country will experience frigid temperatures, with central Mississippi, nearly all of Alabama and most of Georgia under frost and freeze warnings on Friday.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2025
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But the region has so far refused to touch the $229 billion of Russian central bank cash sitting in the European Union, frozen after Vladimir Putin’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The two officials also agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation between their countries, according to SANA.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
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These challenges form a connected ecosystem where strategic infrastructure investments drive economic growth, generating revenue for essential services while strengthening community bonds.—
Courier-News,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After a second quarter defensive letdown, the Heat stiffened against a team that leads the league in points per 100 possessions, at 122.4.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
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Exercise Too much sitting can cause muscles to stiffen, and moving around more can help ease aches and pains.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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