1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardness
The water’s mineral content and its softness or hardness comes into play with the fermenting process, Martin said.
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Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
Martin has a true hardness in his game, attacking the high-percentage areas and is an extremely physical player.
—Corey Pronman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The column wheel is thermally blued, a process that not only enhances corrosion resistance but also increases surface hardness, and importantly - looks pleasing to the eye.
—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
What are the limits for softness or hardness or smoothness or other characteristics of the material?
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
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Merriam-Webster defines it as the description of someone or something in a state of possibly irreversible misfortune and hardship.—
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Among community theaters forced to close due to financial hardships was the nearby Artisan Center Theater in Hurst.—
Noun
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Those who break the rules are hit with fines depending on the severity of the infraction.—
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So consider the size and severity of scratches and markings, as well as the item's price.—
Noun
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Their study on the jagged frontier shows that AI capability spikes and dips across activities rather than rising smoothly with difficulty.—
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Symptoms include breathing difficulties, fatigue and loss of taste.—
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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