as in strengthens
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 harshens
Verb
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Early delivery of warship strengthens fleet readiness The project is the second carrier availability to be completed on schedule or ahead of schedule from the Virginia shipyard.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026 -
Now, research strengthens an alternative theory that attributes the cooling to a violent cluster of volcanic eruptions.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Will these Knicks stick to the process when the competition stiffens in the second round?—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Harshens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshens. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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