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Synonyms

hardening

American  
[hahr-dn-ing] / ˈhɑr dn ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a material that hardens another, as an alloy added to iron to make steel.

  2. the process of becoming hard or rigid.

hardening British  
/ ˈhɑːdənɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or process of becoming or making hard

  2. a substance added to another substance or material to make it harder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hardening

First recorded in 1620–30; harden + -ing 1

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.

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

These can cause hardening of the transplant organs and lead to complications.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Satellite imagery suggests that Iran has been hardening entrances to its nuclear sites in case of attack.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

“You can’t keep him, my girl,” he said stiffly, hardening his heart.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks

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.