- rigidly set, as in a mode of behaviour
- toughened, as by custom; seasoned
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hard•en /ˈhɑrdən/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to (cause to) become hard or harder: [no object]The ice cream hardened in the freezer.[~ + object]The freezer will harden the ice cream.
- to (cause to) become pitiless, unfeeling, or less gentle and sympathetic: [no object]His heart hardened with anger.[~ + object]His cruel life had hardened his heart.
- to cause to become stronger;
toughen:[~ + object]Battle had hardened the troops.
hard•ened
(här′dnd),USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- made or become hard or harder.
- pitiless;
unfeeling. - firmly established or unlikely to change;
inveterate:a hardened criminal. - inured;
toughened:a hardened trooper. - rigid;
unyielding:a hardened attitude. - (of a missile base) equipped to launch missiles from underground silos.
- (of a missile) capable of being launched from an underground silo.
- 1325–75; Middle English; see harden, -ed2
hard•en
(här′dn),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
hard′en•a•ble, adj.
hard′en•a•bil′i•ty, n.
Har•den (här′dn),USA pronunciation n.
- to make hard or harder:to harden steel.
- to make pitiless or unfeeling:to harden one's heart.
- to make rigid or unyielding;
stiffen:The rigors of poverty hardened his personality. - to strengthen or confirm, esp. with reference to character, intentions, feelings, etc.;
reinforce. - to make hardy, robust, or capable of endurance;
toughen. - Militaryto reinforce the structure of (a military or strategic installation) to protect it from nuclear bombardment.
v.i.
- to become hard or harder.
- to become pitiless or unfeeling.
- to become rigid or unyielding;
stiffen:His personality hardened over the years. - to become confirmed or strengthened:His resistance hardened.
- to become inured or toughened:The troops hardened under constant fire.
- Business[Com.](of a market, prices, etc.)
- to cease to fluctuate;
firm:When the speculators withdrew from the market, the prices hardened. - to rise higher.
- to cease to fluctuate;
- 1150–1200; Middle English; see hard, -en1
hard′en•a•bil′i•ty, n.
- 1. . solidify, indurate; petrify, ossify. 4. . fortify, steel, brace, nerve.
- 1. . soften. 4. . weaken.
Har•den (här′dn),USA pronunciation n.
- Biographical Sir Arthur, 1865–1940, English biochemist: Nobel prize 1929.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hardened /ˈhɑːdənd/ adj
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
harden /ˈhɑːdən/ vb
- to make or become hard or harder; freeze, stiffen, or set
- to make or become more hardy, tough, or unfeeling
- to make or become stronger or firmer
- (intransitive)
- (of prices, a market, etc) to cease to fluctuate
- (of price) to rise higher
'hardened criminal' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):