hardening
noun
hard·en·ing ˈhärd-niŋ 
ˈhär-dᵊn-iŋ
: sclerosis sense 1
hardening of the arteries
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Atherosclerosis is the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque, made up of fatty substances and cholesterol, in the arteries’ inner lining, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. 
Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 High triglycerides contribute to the hardening and thickening of the artery walls, which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Russell Foster, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Ironically, the comedian and actor first became involved with SRF prior to his sister's diagnosis with the chronic disease, which can lead to a hardening and tightening of connective tissue and skin. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 13 Jan. 2022 The Southern California coast, which is more urbanized, is also buffered by more seawalls and cliff hardening devices that slow erosion. Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Another layer of protection is kernel configuration hardening. Michael Mehlberg, Forbes, 6 June 2022 Vascular stiffness is the normal hardening of the arteries that progresses with age. Amby Burfoot, Outside Online, 6 Jan. 2020 But others say that the market downturn and the hardening of the late-stage venture capital environment have had a sobering effect on the economics of the cybersecurity industry. James Rundle, WSJ, 22 June 2022 And Maggie's comments about the potential of an executive order, which is a dubious thing to do from a legal perspective, shows the hardening on the left as well. ABC News, 5 June 2022 See More
Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 High triglycerides contribute to the hardening and thickening of the artery walls, which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Russell Foster, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Ironically, the comedian and actor first became involved with SRF prior to his sister's diagnosis with the chronic disease, which can lead to a hardening and tightening of connective tissue and skin. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 13 Jan. 2022 The Southern California coast, which is more urbanized, is also buffered by more seawalls and cliff hardening devices that slow erosion. Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Another layer of protection is kernel configuration hardening. Michael Mehlberg, Forbes, 6 June 2022 Vascular stiffness is the normal hardening of the arteries that progresses with age. Amby Burfoot, Outside Online, 6 Jan. 2020 But others say that the market downturn and the hardening of the late-stage venture capital environment have had a sobering effect on the economics of the cybersecurity industry. James Rundle, WSJ, 22 June 2022 And Maggie's comments about the potential of an executive order, which is a dubious thing to do from a legal perspective, shows the hardening on the left as well. ABC News, 5 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
hardening
noun
hard·en·ing ˈhärd-niŋ, -ᵊn-iŋ
: sclerosis sense 1
hardening of the arteries
hardening
verb
1
as in freezing
to become physically firm or solid the glue begins to harden as soon as it is exposed to air Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- freezing
- stiffening
- solidifying
- congealing
- concreting
- indurating
- setting
- thickening
- gelling
- crystallizing
- encrusting
- caking
- callusing
- tempering
- gelatinizing
- rigidifying
- coagulating
- jellying
- clotting
- firming (up)
- annealing
- ossifying
- calcifying
- jelling
- incrusting
- crystalizing
- petrifying
- case-hardening
- gelating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softening
- liquefying
- melting
- thawing
- liquifying
- dissolving
- fusing
- smelting
- fluxing
- unfreezing
- deliquescing
2
as in strengthening
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure pioneer women who had been hardened by years of living on the plains Synonyms & Similar Words
- strengthening
- toughening
- fortifying
- inuring
- adjusting
- steeling
- indurating
- tempering
- seasoning
- bolstering
- reinforcing
- adapting
- annealing
- bracing
- acclimatizing
- acclimating
- enforcing
- vitalizing
- conditioning
- immunizing
- invigorating
- buttressing
- accustoming
- training
- boosting
- reenforcing
- supporting
- habituating
- forearming
- naturalizing
- breaking in
- propping (up)
- limbering (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softening
- weakening
- exhausting
- sapping
- crippling
- debilitating
- enervating
- incapacitating
- enfeebling
- sensitizing
- emasculating
- hamstringing
3
as in toughening
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
- strengthening
- toughening
- fortifying
- tempering
- annealing
- energizing
- restrengthening
- beefing (up)
- vitalizing
- invigorating
- firming (up)
- toning (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weakening
- crippling
- debilitating
- damaging
- hurting
- impairing
- paralyzing
- harming
- incapacitating
- undermining
- injuring
- enfeebling
- enervating
- undercutting
- breaking down
- sapping
- wearing out
4
as in stiffening
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe the government hardened restrictions on travel to and from the war-torn nation Synonyms & Similar Words
- stiffening
- strengthening
- toughening
- harshening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softening
- easing
- lessening
- ameliorating
- moderating