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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardened
Colin Bedell, Them, 20 Mar. 2025
The company doesn't say if the glass is hardened against breakage like Gorilla Glass.
—PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
European colonial rule hardened the distinction.
—Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
Once hardened to the surface, that polymerized layer feels impossible to remove.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025
Drones and conventional missiles fired from long range cannot carry the large payloads required to significantly damage hardened or sprawling targets like the ones in Yemen.
—Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025
Canadians at first reacted to tariffs with icy fear, but that has hardened into anger and resolve.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025
As the two sides hardened their bargaining positions, Israel shut off all food and other aid entering the strip Sunday, saying its obligations expired with the end of the first ceasefire stage.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025
Apple products are not affected by the attack, but even so, the company hardened the Find My network to resist this kind of attack.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
March 27 is an opportunity to dissolve barriers between the heart and the soul, and to soften the edges where hurt has hardened us.
—Colin Bedell, Them, 20 Mar. 2025
The company doesn't say if the glass is hardened against breakage like Gorilla Glass.
—PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
European colonial rule hardened the distinction.
—Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
Once hardened to the surface, that polymerized layer feels impossible to remove.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025
Drones and conventional missiles fired from long range cannot carry the large payloads required to significantly damage hardened or sprawling targets like the ones in Yemen.
—Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025
Canadians at first reacted to tariffs with icy fear, but that has hardened into anger and resolve.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025
As the two sides hardened their bargaining positions, Israel shut off all food and other aid entering the strip Sunday, saying its obligations expired with the end of the first ceasefire stage.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025
Apple products are not affected by the attack, but even so, the company hardened the Find My network to resist this kind of attack.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened
Adjective
-
That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.—
Alex Harris
July 25,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
-
The puppeteers then worked from the artist’s sculptures to make sturdier marionettes for performance.—
Ben Miller Laetitia Vançon,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
But earth sign parents can also lean toward being stubborn and strict, which may cause friction during a stand off or while navigating discipline or tough conversations.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
-
If using for very stubborn stains, use Oxy Bleach powder, which will be gentler and less destructive.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
When the property bubble burst and prices began to fall amid a broader economic slowdown, the market froze, leaving many of these units unoccupied.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
-
The government initially froze all these grants and contracts.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The first direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time, according to the report.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Dubai Duty Free also strengthened its senior management team with eight senior managers appointed to key roles, including seven UAE nationals.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The goal with donuts is to enjoy something tasty, not to replace hardy nutrition.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Alternative: Plant hardy groundcover plants like vinca, liriope, or creeping juniper.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
But Galkin is adamant that because their focus was always the victims, Kohberger’s plea deal only changed one thing.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
11 July 2025
-
The call came on what was the hottest day of the year in the U.K., but staff were adamant Moo needed picking up, much to Ford's mild annoyance.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Its steadfast dedication to its classic roots, combined with a fearless spirit of innovation, results in pieces that never fail to amaze.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
14 July 2025
-
But others in the political realm have been steadfast in their support of Gunn’s framing of the character.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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