case-harden
verb
case-hard·en ˈkās-ˌhär-dᵊn 
case-hardened; case-hardening; case-hardens
transitive verb
1
: to harden (a ferrous alloy) so that the surface layer is harder than the interior
2
: to make callous or insensible
case-hardened adjective
Word History
First Known Use
1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1
case-harden
verb
as in to temper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- temper
- anneal
- gelate
- crystallize
- gel
- petrify
- jelly
- stiffen
- rigidify
- coagulate
- calcify
- incrust
- ossify
- cake
- thicken
- gelatinize
- crystalize
- jell
- clot
- concrete
- encrust
- firm (up)
- freeze
- callus
- solidify
- indurate
- harden
- congeal
- set
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soften
- liquefy
- flux
- melt
- liquify
- dissolve
- fuse
- smelt
- thaw
- deliquesce
- unfreeze