hardenverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˈhɑː.dən/us/ˈhɑːr.dən/harden verb [ I or T ] (SOLID)
to become or make hard:
The mixture hardens as it cools.
It is thought that high cholesterol levels in the blood can harden the arteries (= make them thicker and stiffer, causing disease).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hard and firm
- (as) stiff/straight as a ramrod idiom
- adamantine
- cast iron
- congeal
- crisp
- crispy
- crunchy
- fossilized
- hard
- horny
- ossification
- ossify
- petrified
- ramrod
- rigid
- solid
- stiff
- stiffness
- temper
- unyielding
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harden verb [ I or T ] (SEVERE)
to become more severe, determined, or unpleasant:
Living in the desert hardened the recruits (= made them more strong and determined).
As the war progressed, attitudes on both sides hardened (= became more severe and determined).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making stronger
- aggrandize
- boil
- boil up
- bolster
- cement
- concentrate
- concentrated
- dial
- fortify
- fuel
- gel
- jell
- power (sth) up
- reignite
- reinvigorate
- take hold idiom
- that'll put hairs on your chest! idiom
- tighten
- tighten sth up
- toughen
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hardening
noun [ U or S ] uk/ˈhɑː.dən.ɪŋ/us/ˈhɑːr.dən.ɪŋ/
There has been a hardening of government policy since the invasion.
Idiom(s)
harden your heart