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.
Public sentiment is hardening, with a recent Quinnipiac University poll finding 65 percent of Americans oppose having a data center built in their community.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
AI data centers, manufacturing, and grid hardening against severe weather are driving investments, with half for transmission system upgrades.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
The split widens when a labor strike becomes an armed revolt, with Jacir gamely tracking the hardening or shifting loyalties of both her peasant and well-to-do characters.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 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
“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
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.
