1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
hardened from years of deprivation and grief, the man regarded the house fire as just another misfortune in a life filled with them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
hardened cynics regarded those TV shows as being anything but reality-based
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in froze
to become physically firm or solid
the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthened
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in toughened
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stiffened
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardened
Tyler Kepner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring and summer, when new growth has hardened a bit is a faster way to propagate mountain ash.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2024
Apple has now hardened Safari to prevent modification of those configurations files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
On the Middle East, as in other areas of foreign policy, Harris hopes to be seen as a skeptical heir to Biden and Obama—ideologically similar but hardened by their mistakes.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
Once hardened, poke a hole near the top of the air freshener with a hot skewer or metal rod.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2024
The unrivaled complexity and scale of Kalki 2898 AD have pushed the battle-hardened and seasoned sisters to another level of filmmaking.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024
The Apollo Beach center, with its open walls and multiple rehabilitation pools, is not hardened to withstand a storm the likes of Milton.
—Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Allen, the first Black star for a Phillies franchise that was the NL’s last to integrate, had a perspective hardened by his minor-league experience in Little Rock, Ark.
—Tyler Kepner, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring and summer, when new growth has hardened a bit is a faster way to propagate mountain ash.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2024
Apple has now hardened Safari to prevent modification of those configurations files.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
On the Middle East, as in other areas of foreign policy, Harris hopes to be seen as a skeptical heir to Biden and Obama—ideologically similar but hardened by their mistakes.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
Once hardened, poke a hole near the top of the air freshener with a hot skewer or metal rod.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2024
The unrivaled complexity and scale of Kalki 2898 AD have pushed the battle-hardened and seasoned sisters to another level of filmmaking.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024
The Apollo Beach center, with its open walls and multiple rehabilitation pools, is not hardened to withstand a storm the likes of Milton.
—Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
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Huawei says the main foldable display is built on top of a carbon fiber glass plate which helps reinforce the screen, and the hinge connecting the moving parts feel sturdy and reassuring.Ben Sin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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This sturdy ice scraper has a padded, ergonomic handle that makes for an easy grip with or without gloves.Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Fed’s preferred inflation measure — the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — is due Friday and could similarly show stubborn price pressures.Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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While the overall economic picture is starting to look better, stubborn inflation and the prospect of new tariffs when President-elect Donald Trump takes office seem to give mid-market leaders pause.Megan Poinski, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The nearly 20 seconds of McConnell being froze brought on concerns about his overall health.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Rome ran a great route and froze Fred, who had his eyes on me in the back.Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That will be especially important because China in recent years has strengthened ties with a belligerent Algiers.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Under the Biden administration, Attorney General Merrick Garland strengthened the Justice Department's policy relating to the news media.Ryan Lucas, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Volvo leans heavily into its Swedish roots, building hardy machines that can withstand brutal winters in its home country.Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024
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In the garden, winterberry is hardy in a wider range than its evergreen cousin, from Zones 3-9.Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The company has long maintained that privacy is a fundamental human right and has been adamant that the information stored on its devices be accessible only to the people that own them.Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Despite the abuse Drea and her kids have experienced, the mother of three is adamant about keeping her ex-husband’s last name.Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
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According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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His refusal to take his daughters seriously—which stems from his steadfast commitment to his own beliefs—leads them to mistrust him in turn, creating a grim, seemingly unbreakable cycle.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024
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In The Ride of a Lifetime, Iger recounts facing political tensions in China and creative conflicts with George Lucas, requiring steadfast composure, patience, stamina, and strategic thinking.Julian Hayes II, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hardened
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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