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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Locals, even some hardened to the realities of big-time sports, bought into Kiffin’s genuine affection for the people and the place.
—
Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
Don’t Pull Out Your Potatoes Prematurely While yellow leaves mean that soil baking is done, the potatoes still need some time underground to harden up.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
But diplomatic relations hardened over the following months, as progress on ending the war appeared to stall.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 May 2026
The same is true if the entire jar seems overly hardened or clumped into a solid mass.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
Don’t Pull Out Your Potatoes Prematurely While yellow leaves mean that soil baking is done, the potatoes still need some time underground to harden up.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
But diplomatic relations hardened over the following months, as progress on ending the war appeared to stall.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 May 2026
The same is true if the entire jar seems overly hardened or clumped into a solid mass.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for harden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden
Verb
-
Riyadh ordered government entities to freeze payments to strategy advisers, management consultants, and law firms, which were central to the kingdom’s efforts to reinvent its economy and become a global business and entertainment hub, Semafor reported.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
-
This easy dish is perfect to prepare and freeze to cook on busy weeknights.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Both use Virtue, a product line of serums, shampoos, and hair masks that prioritize strengthening the hair while promoting growth, hydration, and an overall healthy scalp (the key to it all).—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
-
The Emsculpt Abdomen is a non-surgical body contouring procedure that tones and strengthens the abdominal muscles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Golden State’s schedule stiffens with an upcoming trip to New York and Indiana.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
There was a sudden spring shower, which stiffened into rain.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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