work-hardened
Forged through deformation
Work-hardened describes metal that has become stronger and less ductile through repeated stress, hammering, or deformation—a process that rearranges the crystalline structure.
Figuratively, it describes people toughened by demanding labor or harsh conditions: years of factory work had left him work-hardened and stoic.
The term implies resilience gained through endurance rather than natural disposition.
Strengthened through heat treatment
- forgedMade by smithing, or faked
- annealedHeat-softened then cooled
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
- deformationChange in shape
steel · alloy · crystalline · dislocation · plasticity · rolled · drawn · hammered
tempered
Strengthened through heat treatment
- forgedMade by smithing, or faked
- annealedHeat-softened then cooled
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
deformation · steel · alloy · crystalline · dislocation · plasticity · rolled · drawn · hammered · pressed
battle-tested
Proven through actual combat
calloused · weathered · hardscrabble · grizzled · veteran · steeled · experienced · inured · tempered · survivor
- hardenedsolidified, petrified, fossilized, calcified, mineralized
- metal propertiesmalleable, ductile, conductive, magnetic, brittle