noun
Uncommon
hardness
HAHD-nuhs
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.”
noun
1
The quality of being physically hard or resistant to scratching, cutting, or denting.
"Diamond has the highest hardness of any natural material."
"Engineers test the hardness of the alloy before using it."
2
The amount of dissolved minerals, especially calcium, in water.
"The hardness of the tap water left limescale on the kettle."
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.
Common pairings
water hardness
hardness scale
degree of hardness
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Word forms
- Plural
- hardnesses
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Diamond has the highest _____ of any natural material.
Etymology
From Old English heardnes, built from hard + the suffix -ness.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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.
