What is the Opposite(Antonym) of “soften”?

The Opposite(Antonym) of “soften”

The antonyms of soften are harden, toughen, and harden someone's heart. These antonyms convey the opposite meaning of making something less soft or tender, or less likely to yield or be influenced.

Explore all Antonyms of “soften”

Definitions and Examples of harden, toughen, harden someone's heart

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

To make something more solid or firm; to become more rigid or unyielding.

Example

The clay will harden once it dries under the sun.

To make something stronger, more resilient, or less sensitive to pain or discomfort.

Example

The coach made us do intense exercises to toughen us up for the upcoming game.

harden someone's heart

To cause someone to become less sympathetic, compassionate, or forgiving.

Example

The constant rejections from publishers hardened his heart towards the idea of becoming a writer.

Key Differences: harden vs toughen vs harden someone's heart

  • 1Harden refers to making something more solid or firm, while toughen refers to making something stronger or more resilient.
  • 2Harden someone's heart is an idiom that describes causing someone to become less compassionate or forgiving.

Effective Usage of harden, toughen, harden someone's heart

  • 1Science: Use harden to describe the process of making materials more solid or firm.
  • 2Sports: Use toughen to describe the process of making athletes stronger and more resilient.
  • 3Relationships: Use harden someone's heart to describe the process of becoming less compassionate or forgiving towards someone.
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Remember this!

The antonyms of soften are harden, toughen, and harden someone's heart. Use harden to describe making something more solid or firm, toughen to describe making something stronger or more resilient, and harden someone's heart to describe becoming less compassionate or forgiving towards someone.

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