hardness
Hardness (noun) means the quality of being physically hard or resistant to scratching, cutting, or denting. Example: “Diamond has the highest hardness of any natural material.”
How to use hardness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow hard something is — used for materials (like metal) as well as for mineral content in water.
Word forms
hardnesses plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Diamond has the highest _____ of any natural material.
Etymology
From Old English heardnes, built from hard + the suffix -ness.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hardness
See all rhymes for hardness →Frequently asked questions
What does “hardness” mean?
The word “hardness” means the quality of being physically hard or resistant to scratching, cutting, or denting. In plain terms, how hard something is — used for materials (like metal) as well as for mineral content in water.
How do you pronounce “hardness”?
“Hardness” is pronounced HAHD-nuhs (/ˈhɑɹdnəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “hardness” in a sentence?
Here is “hardness” used in a sentence: “Diamond has the highest hardness of any natural material.”
What is another word for “hardness”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hardness” include callosity, durity, firmness, induration, inflexibility and rigidity.
What is the opposite of “hardness”?
The opposite of “hardness” — its antonyms — is softness.
What part of speech is “hardness”?
“Hardness” is a noun.
Where does the word “hardness” come from?
The word “hardness” comes from Old English. From Old English heardnes, built from hard + the suffix -ness.
Is “hardness” a common word?
“Hardness” is an uncommon word in modern English.