HARDENED Synonyms: 274 Similar and Opposite Words

hardened 1 of 2

adjective

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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hardened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of harden

as in froze

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 strengthened

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 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

as in stiffened

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hardened

Adjective

O’Brien’s Ted Keegan is a father, farmer and military veteran — a hardened man who’s spent much of his life following orders and keeping secrets. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 And yet, for a millennia after the fall of Rome, the world largely forgot about concrete, until, in the 18th century, an English mason found that mixing limestone and clay could form a paste that hardened underwater. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026 Drive Chain of Craters Road toward the coast, then walk across hardened lava to Puʻuloa, a sacred site with the largest concentration of petroglyphs in Hawai‘i. — Kevin Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Oct. 2026 Its government, dominated by hardened veterans of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and largely indifferent to the suffering of the Iranian population, appears determined to fight on. — Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026 Severe neuropathy can dull the sensation of excessive pressure, raising injury risk, and advanced lymphedema with hardened swelling calls for medical advice first. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026 People with severe neuropathy may not feel excessive pressure, raising the risk of injury, and advanced lymphedema with hardened swelling also warrants a medical conversation before use. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026 Amid statues and posters of the Virgen de Guadalupe was a rosary that a man had made of hardened bread during his months in an immigration detention facility. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The cold temperature and the snap of the hardened chocolate really elevates the whole experience. — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Now the companies that recover fastest treat a short, honest, imperfect first statement as more valuable than a polished one that arrives after the narrative has already hardened. — Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 But fair reporting has been the exception, and in the space left by our silence, speculation has hardened into something being treated as fact. — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 By many accounts, the doc branch’s preferences hardened into dogma after what happened in the 2021 season. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 But unlike Hamas and Hezbollah, the group has rebounded and emerged better armed, battle-hardened and confident. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 The Houthis are entrenched, battle-hardened and know the mountainous terrain. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 With the warm, soft color of the skirt and top combo, Watts’ look was hardened by her leather jacket. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 European countries have hardened their stance against Chinese imports over fears that an influx of goods like solar panels and EVs could hollow out the bloc’s industries. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The skepticism hardened as the Ellisons made several controversial moves after Skydance acquired Paramount last summer. — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardened

Adjective

The shoes balanced on a slender yet sturdy stiletto heel measuring around three inches.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
The result has been sturdy economic growth, even as lower-income and even middle-income households have continued to struggle under stubborn inflation and declining earnings.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sturdy

Verb

This Mexican restaurant in Clearfork is known for its brisket tacos and strong drinks – their froze with rose and vodka has a two-drink limit.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Brazil and Argentina froze systems after changes of government, including awards already won.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of froze

Verb

Her creative expression extended beyond the runway into cultural moments that further strengthened the brand’s presence in fashion.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Erdogan’s attempt to foster an Ottoman-style pan-Islamism appears to have accelerated liberalization rather than strengthened religious conformity.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of strengthened

Verb

The Chiefs’ defense stiffened and Indy faced a fourth-and-8 from the 15-yard line.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
But after a quick touchdown drive to take a 34-27 lead, the Oregon defense stiffened, and closed out the win with back-to-back stops.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of stiffened

Adjective

Although generally hardy, the plant is susceptible to certain diseases, including anthracnose and bacterial soft rot, as well as pests such as spider mites, caterpillars, and whiteflies.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Cold-hardy brassicas like kale only need to be covered when temperatures fall to 26 to 28°F, and light frosts potentially make these veggies taste better and sweeter.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of hardy

Adjective

But zest was one of just two strengths (the other is hope) that had the strongest relationship to mental well-being across countries and age groups.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of strong

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harden

hardened

hardening

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Style

“Hardened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardened. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hardened

adjective

verb

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