INDURATE Synonyms: 194 Similar and Opposite Words

indurate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈin-də-rət

Definition of indurate

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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

Adjective

Today, it is widely known that coal miners of the 19th and early 20th centuries experienced ruthless exploitation and hazardous working conditions.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Involuntary bumping is more ruthless, denying boarding to passengers in a joyless game of musical plane seats.

— Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruthless

Verb

Ice•ology trays use a slow-freezing process designed to separate impurities and air bubbles from the ice, creating crystal-clear cubes that elevate cocktails, mocktails and everyday beverages.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Barnes is cold-based, and thus frozen directly onto the bedrock beneath it, which prevents it from sliding.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of freeze

Verb

The goal is to strengthen leadership skills and explore key topics, including entrepreneurship, innovation, change management, communication and self-promotion.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Low pressure strengthening off the Carolina coast will gradually move northward, while high pressure remains anchored to our north.

— Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 21 Oct. 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

The building materials are fire-resistant, as are the windows, and the eaves are fire-hardened as well.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
The process, called cured-in-place pipe lining, involves inserting a flexible liner into the old pipe, inflating it and hardening it in place.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of harden

Adjective

It would be seen as a work of merciless autofiction in the vein of Karl Ove Knausgaard, and it would be discussed, as his books are, as aggressive, antisocial, and spiteful.

— B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
In the story, Ria teams up with her foster mother and their fellow punks to resist a merciless developer intent on tearing down their building.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of merciless

Adjective

In a century where the lives of billions are defined by chronic disease, demographic change, and digital systems, China has become one of the central proving grounds for some of the hardest issues in global health.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Next year's public spending review — when the government sets future budgets for departments and public services — could be even harder for lawmakers who appear averse to any cuts.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

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“Indurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indurate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of indurate

adjective

verb

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