as in hardening
to make stronger (as through hardship)
She was annealed by the tragedies of her childhood.
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Recent Examples of annealing
The system will form the backbone of a long-term partnership between FAU and D-Wave, which provides both annealing and gate-model quantum computing platforms.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Engineers sparingly tried annealing hardware space, so Juno's experience could be instructive for future missions.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Workable quantum solutions that make use of annealing systems are now in use.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
After annealing, the links are strong covalent bonds [below].
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annealing
Verb
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When conditions are right for hardening off and planting your seedlings, continue to monitor weather conditions.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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In fire-prone areas, Cal Fire and local fire departments already enforce defensible space rules, and building codes require home hardening like covering vents with mesh to prevent embers from entering the house.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Microsoft committed $10 billion in 2023, strengthening OpenAI’s commercial expansion.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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That includes supporting fuel supply and infrastructure, developing pilot and demonstration projects, strengthening port-to-port data connectivity, and promoting interoperability, cybersecurity and common standards.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Between systems, there will still be milder days, but they may be interrupted by additional reinforcing fronts.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Nonprofits and civil society groups, for their part, can boost Bang for Buck’s expansion, reinforcing methodology consistency across the manufacturing ecosystem.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Think of calcium as fortifying fertilizer for your bones.—
Holly Carter,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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The serum is formulated with a holy grail powerhouse that consists of a fortifying complex, firming complex, and Matrixyl 3000—all pivotal for minimizing signs of aging.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Annealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annealing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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