1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
hardened from years of deprivation and grief, the man regarded the house fire as just another misfortune in a life filled with them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
hardened cynics regarded those TV shows as being anything but reality-based
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in froze
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthened
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toughened
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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Recent Examples of hardened
John Koetsier, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
But the war has hardened Putin’s resolve and narrowed his options.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
The war has hardened Putin’s resolve and narrowed his options.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Seeds that are started indoors generally need to be hardened off before they’re transplanted outside in spring.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2024
Allen, the first Black star for a Phillies franchise that was the NL’s last to integrate, had a perspective hardened by his minor-league experience in Little Rock, Ark.
—Tyler Kepner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring and summer, when new growth has hardened a bit is a faster way to propagate mountain ash.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2024
Apple has now hardened Safari to prevent modification of those configurations files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
Interestingly, the satellites won’t be hardened against radiation.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
But the war has hardened Putin’s resolve and narrowed his options.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
The war has hardened Putin’s resolve and narrowed his options.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Seeds that are started indoors generally need to be hardened off before they’re transplanted outside in spring.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2024
Allen, the first Black star for a Phillies franchise that was the NL’s last to integrate, had a perspective hardened by his minor-league experience in Little Rock, Ark.
—Tyler Kepner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring and summer, when new growth has hardened a bit is a faster way to propagate mountain ash.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2024
Apple has now hardened Safari to prevent modification of those configurations files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
-
Loftin Hall itself, the former student dining hall where the museum is housed, is noteworthy on its own, with beautiful Mexican tiles and sturdy wooden beams.—
Pam LeBlanc,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2025
-
The insulation will keep you warm in below-zero temperatures, while the sturdy rubber soles will prevent you from slipping and sliding on icy terrain.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Coaches will tell you of a character who could be grumpy or stubborn, but also of someone who needed faith shown in him.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Thanks to its impressive staying power, this eyeliner can be a bit stubborn to remove.—
Siena Gagliano,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The fumble froze the Chicago linebackers and allowed Musgrave to leak out for a big gain.—
Colton Pouncy,
The Athletic,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Others said the application process froze or produced error messages.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Dec. 2024
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
-
Temperature and Humidity Mountain mint is a hardy perennial that can thrive in cold temperatures and hot, humid summers in Zones 4-8.—
Lauren David,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2025
-
These hardy perennials will thrive in outdoor pots well into zone 6. Boxwood Botanical Name: Buxus species and hybrids Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Moist, well-draining Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5) Boxwoods are hard-working shrubs, providing rich color and year-round structure.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Rocky has been adamant in declaring his innocence, refusing what many considered a decent plea deal before the trial got underway.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Such a lineup is unknown territory for the festival, but Blanc was adamant not to deviate from the carte blanche principle for selections.—
Lily Templeton,
WWD,
29 Jan. 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
-
As those factors emerged, NBA front-office sources remained steadfast that Flagg was the No. 1 pick.—
Sam Vecenie,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
-
In contrast, Pence, speaking at an educational forum in Taipei, expressed his belief that the United States should remain steadfast in its commitments.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hardened
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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