harden

¹ American  

[hahr-dn] / ˈhɑr dn /

verb (used with object)

1. to make hard or harder.

   to harden steel.

   Synonyms:

   ossify, petrify, indurate, solidify

   Antonyms:

   soften

2. to make pitiless or unfeeling.

   to harden one's heart.

3. to make rigid or unyielding; stiffen.

   The rigors of poverty hardened his personality.

4. to strengthen or confirm, especially with reference to character, intentions, feelings, etc.; reinforce.

   Synonyms:

   nerve, brace, steel, fortify

   Antonyms:

   weaken

5. to make hardy, robust, or capable of endurance; toughen.

6. Military. to reinforce the structure of (a military or strategic installation) to protect it from nuclear bombardment.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become hard or harder.

2. to become pitiless or unfeeling.

3. to become rigid or unyielding; stiffen.

   His personality hardened over the years.

4. to become confirmed or strengthened.

   His resistance hardened.

5. to become inured or toughened.

   The troops hardened under constant fire.

6. Commerce. (of a market, prices, etc.)

   1. to cease to fluctuate; firm.

      When the speculators withdrew from the market, the prices hardened.

   2. to rise higher.

Harden ² American  

[hahr-dn] / ˈhɑr dn /

noun

1. Sir Arthur, 1865–1940, English biochemist: Nobel Prize 1929.

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harden ¹ British  

/ ˈhɑːdən /

verb

1. to make or become hard or harder; freeze, stiffen, or set

2. to make or become more hardy, tough, or unfeeling

3. to make or become stronger or firmer

   they hardened defences

4. to make or become more resolute or set

   hardened in his resolve

5. (intr) commerce

   1. (of prices, a market, etc) to cease to fluctuate

   2. (of price) to rise higher

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harden ² British  

/ ˈhɑːdən /

noun

1. a rough fabric made from hards

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Other Word Forms

• hardenability noun
• hardenable adjective
• overharden verb
• preharden verb (used with object)
• reharden verb
• unharden verb (used with object)
• unhardenable adjective

Etymology

Origin of harden

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; hard, -en ¹

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

“It hardened the resolve in the region and cemented the alignment within the Gulf with the U.S.”

From Barron's

The split widens when a labor strike becomes an armed revolt, with Jacir gamely tracking the hardening or shifting loyalties of both her peasant and well-to-do characters.

From Los Angeles Times

In mitigation, David Mason KC said the "hardened criminal" had "completely gone off the rails and got himself in a terrible, terrible situation".

From BBC

We have hardened our infrastructure and built an oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

From The Wall Street Journal