as in to strengthen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harshen
The mayor's new legislative effort will also seek to harshen penalties for firearms and ghost guns, officials said Monday.
—
Beatrice Peterson,
ABC News,
15 May 2023
Seven Memphis police officers were fired in the wake of Nichols' death, which sparked national uproar and harshened the spotlight on police brutality.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC News,
4 May 2023
Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy.
—
Odie Henderson,
BostonGlobe.com,
12 July 2022
As time goes on, more voters could harshen their view of Biden, as all of these problems are under his tent now.
—
Paul Bedard,
Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2021
The impetus for the line came not just from the rise of the ingredient-conscious consumer, but also in response to the ever-harshening realities of modern life.
—
Rebecca Dancer,
Allure,
13 Dec. 2019
Protests by tens of thousands before the election and on the eve of his inauguration lead to legislation harshening penalties for unauthorized political protests.
—
Fox News,
18 Mar. 2018
Beatrice Peterson,
ABC News,
15 May 2023
Seven Memphis police officers were fired in the wake of Nichols' death, which sparked national uproar and harshened the spotlight on police brutality.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC News,
4 May 2023
Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy.
—
Odie Henderson,
BostonGlobe.com,
12 July 2022
As time goes on, more voters could harshen their view of Biden, as all of these problems are under his tent now.
—
Paul Bedard,
Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2021
The impetus for the line came not just from the rise of the ingredient-conscious consumer, but also in response to the ever-harshening realities of modern life.
—
Rebecca Dancer,
Allure,
13 Dec. 2019
Protests by tens of thousands before the election and on the eve of his inauguration lead to legislation harshening penalties for unauthorized political protests.
—
Fox News,
18 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshen
Verb
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Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.
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The only way to preserve our republic is to strengthen the pillars of our present with the mortar of our past.
Verb
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Group 1 is pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare and severe version that occurs when blood vessels in the lungs narrow and stiffen.
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Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans' historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up.
Cite this Entry
“Harshen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshen. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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