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
Load size, water hardness, soil level and machine type all affect how much detergent your laundry actually needs per load.
—
Ryan Brennan
may 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Going into the study, the team hypothesized that pincers built for generating high crushing force would contain the highest levels of metal to provide maximum hardness, while enrichment in the weaker, slender pincers would be lower.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Its replaceable filters will help reduce water hardness.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Depending on your water hardness, the humidifier will need a deep cleaning from time to time.
—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Ryan Brennan
may 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Going into the study, the team hypothesized that pincers built for generating high crushing force would contain the highest levels of metal to provide maximum hardness, while enrichment in the weaker, slender pincers would be lower.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Its replaceable filters will help reduce water hardness.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Depending on your water hardness, the humidifier will need a deep cleaning from time to time.
—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
My history has been shaped by hardship, self-discovery and a relentless pursuit of purpose.
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So as opposed to, say, inspiring American leaders of all kinds, like a real explanation of the character of Harriet Tubman or of Chief Joseph or Americans struggled against real hardships.
Noun
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Emergency drain cleaning runs $400 to $1,000 or more, depending on severity.
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While most wildfires in the past burned slowly across the forest floor, providing benefits to the forest, high-severity fires roar into the tops of the trees, burning 1,000 degrees or hotter, with flames that can reach 200 feet tall.
Noun
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This game preserves the difficulty of coming up with an elaborate, consistent false narrative on the spot, and the challenge of adapting that narrative on the fly when other players present convincing (and sometimes fake) counter-evidence.
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Even if polls point to a majority, a potential coalition spanning left, right, center and Arab parties would face real difficulty forming a government – and keeping it together.
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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