verb trans
to make or become (something) hard or harder
to make (a person, their heart, attitude, etc) more inflexible or unyielding
The government has hardened its heart towards street beggars
Bitter experience had hardened him against her entreaties
The setback served only to harden their resolve
to toughen or inure (somebody)
hardened troops
(often + off) to inure (plants) to cold or other unfavourable environmental conditions
to become hard or harder
to become confirmed or strengthened
Opposition began to harden
to assume an appearance of harshness
Her face hardened at the word
to become higher or less subject to fluctuations downward
Prices hardened quickly
hardened adj
hardener noun