Definitions
- Referring to the process of making something physically harder or more resistant. - Describing a person's emotional state becoming less sensitive or more resilient. - Talking about a person's attitude or behavior becoming more severe or uncompromising.
- Referring to the process of making something physically stronger or more robust. - Describing a person's physical or mental abilities becoming more powerful or effective. - Talking about a relationship, bond, or connection becoming more secure or enduring.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a process of improvement.
- 2Both words involve making something stronger or more resistant.
- 3Both words can be used in physical and metaphorical contexts.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Harden emphasizes making something tougher or less sensitive, while strengthen emphasizes making something stronger or more effective.
- 2Method: Harden often involves making something more rigid or inflexible, while strengthen often involves building up or adding to something.
- 3Purpose: Harden may be done for protection or defense, while strengthen may be done for improvement or growth.
- 4Connotation: Harden can have negative connotations of becoming cold or unfeeling, while strengthen has positive connotations of becoming more capable or secure.
- 5Usage: Harden is less commonly used than strengthen in everyday language.
Remember this!
Harden and strengthen are both verbs that describe a process of improvement, but they differ in their focus, method, purpose, connotation, and usage. Harden emphasizes making something tougher or less sensitive, often through rigidity or inflexibility, while strengthen emphasizes making something stronger or more effective, often through building up or adding to it. Harden may be done for protection or defense, while strengthen may be done for improvement or growth. Harden can have negative connotations of becoming cold or unfeeling, while strengthen has positive connotations of becoming more capable or secure. Finally, strengthen is more commonly used than harden in everyday language.
