HARDEN Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

harden

verb

ˈhär-dᵊn

Definition of harden

as in to freeze

to become physically firm or solid the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to strengthen

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to toughen

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stiffen

to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of harden Mohsen Rezaei was named this month as part of senior appointments widely seen as hardening Tehran's political and military stance. — Arkansas Online, 23 Aug. 2026 Use a damp, soapy cloth to wipe any oil off the cabinets right away to keep it from hardening and prevent sticky surfaces. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Institutional indifference and erasure Fast forward to today, and that defensive posture has hardened into absolute institutional erasure. — Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Khalid, the eldest son, then in his early twenties, hardened under the pressure to take care of his family. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harden

Verb

Sophie Richards waited five years for a diagnosis (the average is seven to 10 years), and has had four surgeries (plus freezing her eggs).

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Iceland’s freezing temperatures typically last about five months of the year, but the government has chosen a balmy summer day for its pivotal national referendum.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of freeze

Verb

While Liang’s ties with the government have strengthened, his tech bets appear to be a convergence with Beijing’s priorities rather than state-directed, Wang noted.

— Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
When applied to the scalp, certain peptides can send signals that promote follicle function, extend the growth phase of the hair cycle, and strengthen the tissue surrounding the follicle.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of strengthen

Verb

Offering a 35% incentive aimed at stiffening up jobs here and enticing post-production to relocate to the Golden State, AB 2319 is racing toward a vote in the state Senate by next week once the bill is in final shape.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Softening rather than stiffening when moving through space requires embracing your body’s natural sway and tiny micro-movements, like an ankle wobbling or knee jiggling.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of stiffen

Browse Nearby Words

hard-edged

harden

hardened

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Harden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harden. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of harden

verb

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