hardened 1 of 2

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hardened

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verb

past tense of harden
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as in stiffened
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 hardened
Verb
March 27 is an opportunity to dissolve barriers between the heart and the soul, and to soften the edges where hurt has hardened us. Colin Bedell, Them, 20 Mar. 2025 The company doesn't say if the glass is hardened against breakage like Gorilla Glass. PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025 European colonial rule hardened the distinction. Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025 Once hardened to the surface, that polymerized layer feels impossible to remove. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025 Drones and conventional missiles fired from long range cannot carry the large payloads required to significantly damage hardened or sprawling targets like the ones in Yemen. Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025 Canadians at first reacted to tariffs with icy fear, but that has hardened into anger and resolve. Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025 As the two sides hardened their bargaining positions, Israel shut off all food and other aid entering the strip Sunday, saying its obligations expired with the end of the first ceasefire stage. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025 Apple products are not affected by the attack, but even so, the company hardened the Find My network to resist this kind of attack. David Phelan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite growing consternation and concern expressed by economists and CEOs, Trump administration officials have been stubborn in defending its trade policies.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ocasio-Cortez might have a good shot at cracking that stubborn nut.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • When the property bubble burst and prices began to fall amid a broader economic slowdown, the market froze, leaving many of these units unoccupied.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The government initially froze all these grants and contracts.
    Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The first direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time, according to the report.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Dubai Duty Free also strengthened its senior management team with eight senior managers appointed to key roles, including seven UAE nationals.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Foliage remains evergreen in locations where plants are winter hardy.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Balancing hardy explorer capabilities with a design that’s fresh and elegant, the brand new M will be a hot topic at the upcoming show.
    Katia Damborsky, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Paul has been adamant that the tariffs won’t help the U.S. His frustration with the tariffs came as seven GOP senators signed on to a bipartisan bill that sought to have Congressional oversight over the president’s tariffs.
    Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The 12-time Emmy award-winner was also adamant about sharing her cancer journey with her audience—hoping that her experience might offer support and guidance to others facing similar challenges.
    Joanne Fowler, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • While industries evolve and AI transforms work, a company’s commitment to its weekly all-hands meeting or quarterly offsite can remain steadfast.
    Susanne Biro, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The administration's steadfast message in recent days has been that the tariffs were coming and there was no way out.
    Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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