as in strengthened
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
recent changes to the drunk driving laws harshen penalties for repeat offenders
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshened
Verb
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Meanwhile, the latest edition of the MLB World Tour strengthened the perception of binational ties, coming in a stadium named after a Padres minority owner with a significant stake.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026 -
The gangland drama is deeper and darker than the domestic one, strengthened by the unexpected portrayal of the Russian toughs as bumbling in their own way.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The journey of King Charles and the Queen consort had been planned for some time, well before relations between the United Kingdom and the United States stiffened due to international tensions, compounded by the assassination attempt on Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.—
Giorgia Olivieri,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
June stiffened, a pillar of ice.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Harshened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshened. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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