harden
Set like concrete
Harden means to make or become hard, firm, or solid.
Water hardens into ice; steel is hardened by tempering.
The word extends naturally to abstract toughening: a person may harden after repeated disappointments, becoming less emotionally vulnerable.
Years of rejection hardened her resolve.
If someone hardens their position, they become less willing to compromise.
Markets harden when prices firm up after a decline.
Arrange in position
- cementCalcium powder binding agent
- congealSolidify from liquid state
- coagulateSolidify from liquid form
- gelWobbly semi-solid substance
crystallize · petrify · calcify · freeze · cure · solidification · stiffen · ossify
Acclimatize to difficulty
- desensitizeReduce responsiveness over time
- numbLacking physical sensation
- toughenMake harder to damage
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
deaden · accustom · season · weather · acclimate · condition · habituate · steel oneself
Make stronger against threat
- reinforceAdd strength to something
- toughenMake harder to damage
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
- braceDevice providing structural stability
shore up · consolidate · buttress · stabilize · armor · galvanize · enhance · intensify
Heat-treat to strengthen
- quenchSatisfy or extinguish
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- smithingMetalworking by hammer
alloy · metallurgy · blacksmith · iron · tempering · normalizing · cooling · brittleness
Cause deep resentment
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
cold · steely · stony · frosty · pitiless · merciless · unforgiving · callous
Unable to bend
- stiffNot easily bent
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- firmSolid or resolute
fixed · adamant · implacable · unrelenting · obdurate · intransigent · immovable · entrenched
Firmness of purpose
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
tenacity · grit · firmness · resilience · endurance · courage · backbone · steely
set
Arrange in position
- cementCalcium powder binding agent
- congealSolidify from liquid state
- coagulateSolidify from liquid form
gel · crystallize · petrify · calcify · freeze · cure · solidification · stiffen · ossify · curdle
inure
Acclimatize to difficulty
- desensitizeReduce responsiveness over time
- numbLacking physical sensation
- toughenMake harder to damage
blunt · deaden · accustom · season · weather · acclimate · condition · habituate · steel oneself · brutalize
fortify
Make stronger against threat
brace · shore up · consolidate · buttress · stabilize · armor · galvanize · enhance · intensify · invigorate
anneal
Heat-treat to strengthen
smithing · alloy · metallurgy · blacksmith · iron · tempering · normalizing · cooling · brittleness · carbon
embitter
Cause deep resentment
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
hostile · cold · steely · stony · frosty · pitiless · merciless · unforgiving · callous · cruel
inflexible
Unable to bend
- stiffNot easily bent
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
firm · fixed · adamant · implacable · unrelenting · obdurate · intransigent · immovable · entrenched · uncompromising
determination
Firmness of purpose
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
fortitude · tenacity · grit · firmness · resilience · endurance · courage · backbone · steely · obstinacy
- hardensolidify, stiffen, firm up, set, congeal
- process verbscreate, produce, make, build, construct
- strengthenreinforce, fortify, bolster, toughen, shore up
- blacksmithinganvil, anvils, forge, forges, bellows
- metalworkingwelding, casting, forging, smithing, smelting
- Caribbean slangpatois, mon, nuff, cyan, yuh
- hard workSustained strenuous effort
- work hardExpend serious effort
- hard timeStruggle or imprisonment
- hard driveComputer's internal storage device
- the hard wayThrough difficulty, not ease
- hard to believeDifficult to accept as true
hard, hardy, hardship, hardness, hardened, harder, hardening, hardens, unhardened