Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

harden

 verb
     
hard‧en [intransitive and transitive]
1 to become firm or stiff, or to make something firm or stiff [≠ soften]:
It will take about 24 hours for the glue to harden.
2 if your attitude hardens, or if something hardens it, you become more strict and determined and less sympathetic [≠ soften]:
Attitudes towards the terrorists have hardened even more since the attack.
3 written if your face or voice hardens, or if something hardens it, you look or sound less sympathetic or happy [≠ soften]:
His face hardened momentarily, then he looked away.
4

harden your heart

to make yourself not feel pity or sympathy for someone
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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