Hardness: meaning, definitions and examples

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hardness

[ ˈhɑːrdnəs ]

^{Context #1}

physical property

The quality or state of being hard, as of a substance or material.

Synonyms

solidity, stiffness, toughness

Examples of usage

The diamond is known for its extreme hardness.
The hardness of the rock made it difficult to break.

^{Context #2}

difficult situation

The quality or state of being difficult to deal with or endure.

Synonyms

rigidity, severity, toughness

Examples of usage

The hardness of the exam questions surprised the students.
The hardness of life in the city can be overwhelming.

^{Context #3}

harshness

The quality or state of being harsh or severe.

Synonyms

cruelty, severity, sternness

Examples of usage

The hardness of his words hurt her feelings.
The hardness of the punishment was unexpected.

Translations

Translations of the word "hardness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dureza

🇮🇳 कठोरता

🇩🇪 Härte

🇮🇩 kekerasan

🇺🇦 твердість

🇵🇱 twardość

🇯🇵 硬さ

🇫🇷 dureté

🇪🇸 dureza

🇹🇷 sertlik

🇰🇷 경도

🇸🇦 صلابة

🇨🇿 tvrdost

🇸🇰 tvrdosť

🇨🇳 硬度

🇸🇮 trdota

🇮🇸 hörku

🇰🇿 қаттылық

🇬🇪 სიმტკიცე

🇦🇿 sərtlik

🇲🇽 dureza

Word origin

The word 'hardness' has its origins in Middle English, from the word 'hard', which can be traced back to Old English 'heard'. The concept of hardness has been a fundamental aspect of human understanding since ancient times, particularly in the study of materials and physical properties. Throughout history, hardness has been a key factor in various fields such as geology, metallurgy, and engineering.