1
as in freezing
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 strengthening
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 toughening
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 stiffening
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 hardening
Preparing For Planting Tomato transplants, whether purchased from the store or grown from seed, require a period of hardening off before they are planted in the garden.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The lunar sea Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crisis) is just visible as a dark circular feature at the top of the sunlit lunar disk, where lava flooded a network of impact craters over a billion years ago, before hardening into a vast basaltic plain.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The Defense Department released a blueprint in January for hardening bases against drones that slip past air defenses, outlining measures for commanders, including netting to trap or prematurely detonate incoming drones and additional hardened overhead cover.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Transplanting Seedlings Outdoors What applies to the hardening off process is also true for the timing of planting seedlings—earlier last frost means earlier transplanting, and vice versa.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
The lunar sea Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crisis) is just visible as a dark circular feature at the top of the sunlit lunar disk, where lava flooded a network of impact craters over a billion years ago, before hardening into a vast basaltic plain.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The Defense Department released a blueprint in January for hardening bases against drones that slip past air defenses, outlining measures for commanders, including netting to trap or prematurely detonate incoming drones and additional hardened overhead cover.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Transplanting Seedlings Outdoors What applies to the hardening off process is also true for the timing of planting seedlings—earlier last frost means earlier transplanting, and vice versa.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardening
Verb
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These deep-ocean predators swim through near-freezing Arctic waters at a pace that barely registers.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Houdry’s catalytic invention couldn’t work with leaded gasoline, and it hadn’t been tested in tough conditions, such as freezing cold or sweltering heat.—
Ann E. Carlson,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The program delivers on the government’s Plan for Change, supporting economic growth through defense investment while strengthening national security.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
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That includes strengthening its internal culture, refining legal strategy, and maintaining clear standards around results and professional integrity.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
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The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, Karel Havlicek, minister for industry and trade, told us.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardening. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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