indurate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈin-də-rət How to pronounce indurate (audio)
Definition of induratenext
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings an indurate heart that admits no love or mercy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

indurate

2 of 2

verb

ˈin-də-ˌrāt How to pronounce indurate (audio)
1
as in to freeze
to become physically firm or solid clay that had been indurated by long exposure to the summer sun

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2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure such a brutal upbringing could only callous his soul and indurate his heart to the suffering of others

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indurate
Adjective
His characters strive to achieve things—such as love, self-command, or financial success—but those efforts are made ironic in the face of a world that, while sometimes beautiful to look at, remains indurate to human happiness. — Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 24 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indurate
  1. ruthless
  2. freeze
  3. strengthen
  4. stony
  5. harden
  6. merciless
  7. stiffen
  8. hard
Adjective
  • For Arsenal, the mission to create their best possible squad for depth and quality requires some upgrades in certain areas, and Berta won’t mind being ruthless if a sacrifice here leads to a new crowning there.
    — Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Her portrayal of Abby Cunningham on Knots Landing helped define the prime-time soap’s appeal, with the character’s romances becoming just as talked about as her ruthless ambition.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Verb
  • China’s imports of LNG from Russia across all routes surged nearly 28% in the first half of the year by volume as LNG exports from the Middle East froze due to the US-Iran war.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In 2014, around four thousand Americans chose to freeze their eggs, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.
    — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of freeze
Verb
  • However, the notion of the emperor’s divine origins strengthened during the Meiji era, when the concept of State Shinto arose.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The tropical storm is set to strengthen into a hurricane on approach to Hawaii’s Big Island this weekend.
    — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of strengthen
Adjective
  • Oscar Wilde, for example, reposes beneath a hulking deity whose iconoclastic castration, back in 1961, did little to restrain pilgrims seeking to smear red lips across his stony physique.
    — Emily Cox, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
  • Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.
    — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Definition of stony
Verb
  • Be sure to harden off the seedlings before transferring them to your garden.
    — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This buildup, called plaque, narrows and hardens the arteries, causing health problems.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of harden
Adjective
  • In Braun’s script, the merciless obstacle course of singlehood seems just absurd.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Regehr was relentless and merciless, and Oilers fans had to witness it over and over again.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of merciless
Verb
  • Not to mention their unusually flexible blood vessels could also help compensate for stiffening heart tissue.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Even simple movements can encourage healthy blood flow and keep fascia from stiffening up.
    — Jennifer Heimlich, Time, 27 July 2026
Definition of stiffen
Adjective
  • For the last six years, Six has lived as a recluse in Amsterdam, lying in bed and going out twice a day for decaf coffee (the regular brew is too hard on his shattered nerves).
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That could make a huge difference in remote communities where fuel is hard to find and dependable electricity cannot be taken for granted.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

indulging (in)
indurate
indurated
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Cite this Entry

“Indurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indurate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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