hardening

1 of 2

noun

hard·​en·​ing ˈhärd-niŋ How to pronounce hardening (audio)
ˈhär-dᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of hardeningnext
: sclerosis sense 1
hardening of the arteries

hardening

2 of 2

present participle of harden

Examples of hardening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Another bill from Allen, who represents the Palisades area that burned in 2025, would create a new loan program to help property owners mitigate fire risks through home hardening, or installing fire-resistant materials on the outside of a structure. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The developers would make improvements to Pierce Road, build a one-mile public trail and include home hardening and defensible space measures to mitigate wildfire risk. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Security training as one solution Like physical hardening of schools, active shooter training happens before an actual event. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 The hardening of the administration toward all immigrants, undocumented or not, has trickled down to Idaho. — Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hardening

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardening was in the 15th century

Rhymes for hardening

See All Rhymes for hardening

Browse Nearby Words

hardener
hardening
harden one's heart
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hardening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardening. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

hardening

noun
hard·​en·​ing
: sclerosis
hardening of the arteries

Medical Definition

hardening

noun
hard·​en·​ing ˈhärd-niŋ, -ᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce hardening (audio)
: sclerosis sense 1
hardening of the arteries

More from Merriam-Webster on hardening

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hardening

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