Hardened

Hardened refers to the process of becoming physically firm, resilient, and less susceptible to damage or deformation, or figuratively becoming emotionally insensitive, callous, and resistant to influence or compassion. This transformation can occur through physical treatment like heating and cooling of metals or repeated exposure to difficult or stressful circumstances that desensitize an individual over time. It represents a state of increased strength, durability, or emotional fortitude, often accompanied by a diminished capacity for empathy or vulnerability. This word can describe the treatment of materials and people.

Hardened meaning with examples

• The steel was Hardened by quenching it rapidly in cold water, increasing its tensile strength and making it suitable for building suspension bridges designed to withstand immense weight and strain for generations to come.
• Years of working in the emergency room had Hardened Dr. Ramirez, forcing him to develop a thick skin and maintain a detached professional demeanor in the face of daily trauma and loss.
• After multiple betrayals and painful disappointments, she Hardened her heart, refusing to let anyone get close enough to hurt her again and built impenetrable emotional walls to protect herself from harm.
• The security protocols were Hardened by implementing multi-factor authentication and increasing firewall protection making it almost impossible for outside attackers to penetrate the new defense network.