INDURATE Synonyms: 194 Similar and Opposite Words

indurate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈin-də-rət

Definition of indurate

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy

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indurate

2 of 2

verb

ˈin-də-ˌrāt

as in to freeze

to become physically firm or solid clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun

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as in to strengthen

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others

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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 indurate

Adjective

His characters strive to achieve things—such as love, self-command, or financial success—but those efforts are made ironic in the face of a world that, while sometimes beautiful to look at, remains indurate to human happiness. — Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 24 Jan. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indurate

Adjective

Once the ruthless commander of Bosnian Serb forces, Mladic oversaw the siege of Sarajevo, mass killings and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that left more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead.

— Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter, like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruthless

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

Adjective

Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.

— Emily Cox, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.

— Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026

Definition of stony

Verb

This is to help chocolate layer not stick to sides when later hardened.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Gray’s challenge in such circumstances is to ensure that Blackstone’s pro-AI convictions don’t harden into a consensus his firm will regret if conditions change.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of harden

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

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

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