hardening
Americannoun
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a material that hardens another, as an alloy added to iron to make steel.
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the process of becoming hard or rigid.
noun
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the act or process of becoming or making hard
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a substance added to another substance or material to make it harder
Etymology
Origin of hardening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chinese officials were unsure what to make of Pete Hegseth’s presence — whether it was meant to convey a softer stance, a hardening one, or simply an ignorance of basic diplomatic protocol.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
In another sign of its hardening stance, North Korea deleted all references to uniting the divided peninsula from its constitution, an AFP review of the latest version this week showed.
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
As we navigate a world where geopolitical lines seem to be hardening, how do you retain your own sense of origin or the stories your family passed down?
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
A 2018 server breach caused by a third-party data center vulnerability prompted NordVPN to accelerate its security hardening and audit schedule.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
He elaborated without encouragement, citing the advantages of Devon’s physical hardening program and of a high school diploma when he did in good time reach basic training.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
