Strengthen vs Harden - What's the difference?
strengthen | harden | Related terms |
(lb) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce.
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*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
*:Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,/ With powerful policy strengthen themselves.
*1851 , Anonymous,
*:A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.
(lb) To animate; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to fix in resolution; to hearten.
*(Bible), (w) iii. 28
*:Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
*
*:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.."
(lb) To augment; to improve; to intensify.
(lb) To grow strong or stronger.
To become hard (tough, resistant to pressure).
(ergative) To make something hard or harder (tough, resistant to pressure).
(dated) To become or make a person or thing resistant or less sensitive.
In intransitive terms the difference between strengthen and harden
is that strengthen is to grow strong or stronger while harden is to become hard (tough, resistant to pressure).As verbs the difference between strengthen and harden
is that strengthen is to make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce while harden is to become hard (tough, resistant to pressure).strengthen
English
Verb
(en verb)Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog
Antonyms
* atrophyDerived terms
* strengthenerReferences
* English ergative verbsharden
English
Verb
(en verb)- When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. — KJV, Exodus 4:21