Meaning & use

harden

verb·Everyday

To become or make something stiff, solid, or unyielding, often through cooling or exposure.

See it in a sentence

The clay will harden overnight if you leave it out in the dry air.

Years of hardship seemed to harden his attitude toward strangers.

A note on using this word

"Harden" applies literally to materials and figuratively to attitudes, opinions, or resolve.

Words with a similar meaning

solidifystiffen

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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