harden meaning

harden as a verb

1. become hard or harder
   • The wax hardened

   Synonyms: indurate

   Opposite: soften

   Type of: change

   Kinds: encrust, callus, calcify, cure

   Related forms: hardening

2. make hard or harder
   • The cold hardened the butter

   Synonyms: indurate

   Opposite: soften

   Type of: change

   Kinds: face-harden, callus, anneal

   Related forms: hardening

3. harden by reheating and cooling in oil
   • temper steel

   Synonyms: temper

   Type of: modify

4. make fit
   • This trip will season even the hardiest traveller

   Synonyms: season

   Type of: toughen

5. cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate
   • He was inured to the cold

   Synonyms: inure, indurate

   Type of: habituate

   Kinds: callous, steel oneself against

How to pronounce harden

harden is pronounced /ˈhɑːdən/ in British English and /ˈhɑrdən/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.

Words that rhyme with harden

• garden
• pardon