har
den
Third Person
hardens
Present Participle
hardening
Past Tense
hardened
Past Participle
hardened
1
to increase firmness or solidity of something
transitive
- The painter used a fixative to harden the layers of charcoal on the canvas.
- The sculptor applied a sealant to harden and protect the clay sculpture.
- The blacksmith used a quenching process to harden the metal.
- The potter fired the ceramics in the kiln to harden them into durable pieces.
Antonyms:
2
to increase in firmness or solidity
- The concrete began to harden as it cured, gradually transforming from a liquid state to a solid structure.
- Over time, the clay sculpture hardened under the sculptor's skilled hands.
- After baking in the oven, the cookie dough hardened into crispy, golden-brown treats.
- The plaster cast hardened around the broken bone, providing stability and support during the healing process.
- As the metal cooled, the molten iron hardened into solid bars, ready to be shaped and forged.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
3
to make accustomed or less sensitive to unfavorable conditions
transitive
- Exposure to extreme temperatures can harden plants, enabling them to thrive in arid or cold climates.
- The explorer's expeditions into remote regions had hardened him to solitude and isolation.
- Soldiers undergo rigorous training to harden them to the rigors of combat and the unpredictable nature of warfare.
- Living in poverty can harden individuals to financial instability.
- The gardener hardened the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.
Synonyms:
4
to make someone's attitude or feelings less sympathetic
transitive
- Continuous exposure to violence in the media can harden individuals to the suffering of others.
- The politician's divisive rhetoric serves to harden the hearts of his supporters against those with differing political views.
- The constant criticism from his parents began to harden his attitude towards authority figures.
- Living in a society that values competition over collaboration can harden individuals.
- The anonymity of online interactions can harden individuals.