Meaning & Definition of Hardness in English

1. The property of being rigid and resistant to pressure

• Not easily scratched

• Measured on mohs scale

2. A quality of water that contains dissolved mineral salts that prevent soap from lathering

• "The costs of reducing hardness depend on the relative amounts of calcium and magnesium compounds that are present"

3. Devoid of passion or feeling

• Hardheartedness

4. The quality of being difficult to do

• "He assigned a series of problems of increasing hardness"

• "The ruggedness of his exams caused half the class to fail"

5. Excessive sternness

• "Severity of character"

• "The harshness of his punishment was inhuman"

• "The rigors of boot camp"