1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardness
These tests test for coliform bacteria, lead, arsenic, uranium, nitrates, sodium, chloride, fluoride, pH, hardness, sulfate, turbidity, iron, and manganese.
—
Alec Janis, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025
Add a Magnetic Water Conditioner Like a water softener, a magnetic water conditioner controls the hardness of the water in the home.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
Reynolds lends a hardness to Masha, at once bitter and comic, and her leading of a game of bingo at the play’s resolution restores some dark humor just as tragedy is about to strike.
—Demetrios Matheou, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
Calcium is instrumental for developing strong bones and teeth, supplying both structure and hardness to your physical architecture.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Alec Janis, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025
Add a Magnetic Water Conditioner Like a water softener, a magnetic water conditioner controls the hardness of the water in the home.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
Reynolds lends a hardness to Masha, at once bitter and comic, and her leading of a game of bingo at the play’s resolution restores some dark humor just as tragedy is about to strike.
—Demetrios Matheou, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
Calcium is instrumental for developing strong bones and teeth, supplying both structure and hardness to your physical architecture.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
Even a temporary loss of the plane—which is a workhorse for long-haul flights—could be a hardship for both the airlines and the flying public.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
13 June 2025
-
However, after decades of economic hardship in Allentown, Trump’s blanket tariffs are now adding to that pain by driving up truck prices and reducing orders.—
Ro Khanna,
Twin Cities,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
Nearly 90% of natural gas processing, fractionation, and storage is concentrated in four regions in the U.S., each subject to various environmental hazards that will incur greater complications and costs as climate change exacerbates natural disasters’ frequency and severity.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Other affected services, including delivery and messaging platforms, report similar difficulties, leading to consumer frustration.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
-
The difficulty in passing the bill may not be opposition.—
Time,
Time,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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