1
as in freezes
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 strengthens
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 toughens
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 stiffens
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation
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Recent Examples of hardens
Seeing and decrying enemies at every turn inevitably hardens those opponents against you.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Cancer Black Moon Lilith in Cancer hardens their heart as a form of emotional protection.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Honor has engineered a gel that rapidly hardens on impact to reduce the impact damage.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
Cancer Black Moon Lilith in Cancer hardens their heart as a form of emotional protection.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Honor has engineered a gel that rapidly hardens on impact to reduce the impact damage.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Hardens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardens. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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