harshen

[ hahr-shuhn ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become harsh:

   Avarice had harshened his features.

Word History and Origins

Origin of harshen¹

First recorded in 1815–25; harsh + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Last season, MLB harshened punishments for pitchers using foreign substances on the baseball.

From Washington Times

A quarter-century ago, the U.S. lived through a different national tragedy only to see migrants demonized and laws harshened.

From Salon

The argument over which poor people deserve aid has begun anew thanks to incipient Republican efforts to harshen work requirements attached to welfare programs.

From Washington Post

All this revived the sunny centrism which defined Mr Cameron’s early leadership from 2005, much of which had been shelved as the financial crisis set in and harshened the mood.

From Economist

McCarthy has repeatedly urged lawmakers to harshen state and federal gun laws, but Illinois has moved in the other direction, recently sending out the state’s first permits allowing residents to carry concealed firearms.

From Time