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.
She is almost painfully careful not to ascribe blame to the growing presence in Germany of Muslim immigrants, among whom there has been a hardening of anti-Zionist public pronouncements since Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Unless we’re going to stop building in these landscapes, and that’s unlikely ... it means we have to start building and retroactively hardening these communities,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
His remarks came after Washington and Tehran had issued demands for compensation over the five-month war, hardening their positions.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
The Qatari aircraft lacks several features of older Air Force One jets, including the ability to refuel midair and nuclear hardening.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
“It’s not about another woman, Obinze,” Kosi said, rising to her feet, her voice steeling, her eyes hardening.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.