harden

[hahr-dn] / ˈhɑr dn /

VERB

make or become solid

Synonyms

STRONG

amalgamate anneal bake brace buttress cake calcify callous cement close clot coagulate compact congeal consolidate contract crystallize curdle dry firm fix fortify fossilize freeze gird indurate jell nerve ossify petrify precipitate press reinforce set settle solidify starch steel stiffen strengthen temper thicken toughen vitrify

WEAK

densify

Antonyms

STRONG

continue dilute discourage dishearten disjoin dissolve dissuade divide enlarge flex hurt let go liquefy loosen melt open separate soften thin unfix unsettle upset weaken

WEAK

be intolerant indulge spoil

VERB

accustom

Synonyms

STRONG

acclimate acclimatize adapt adjust blunt brutalize callous callus coarsen conform deaden develop discipline dull embitter habituate indurate inure numb paralyze roughen season steel stiffen strengthen stun stupefy teach train

WEAK

case-harden climatize make callous render insensitive

Antonyms

STRONG

disarrange disorder enliven neglect unfit weaken

WEAK

be intolerant indulge liquefy melt soften spoil

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The impact of this, he said, is Israeli troops "having to move more cautiously, harden positions, use physical protective measures such as nets and cages, and devote more attention to immediate local defence".

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Inflation will test him almost immediately, and numbers well above the Fed’s target could force the committee to harden its language faster than he would prefer, narrowing his room to maneuver.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

The service takes technical measures to harden the security of its server network.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

If Washington is serious about a stable Syria, it must use its leverage now before sectarian fractures harden beyond repair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

“Now we wait a few minutes for it to harden, and that’s it. Easy, huh?”

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

harden

Example Sentences

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