case hardened
/keɪs ˈhɑrdənd/
adjective
- Made emotionally tough or insensitive by difficult experiences.
- Years of working in the emergency room left her case-hardened to blood and injuries.
- The reporter was case-hardened to the sad stories she heard every day.
- He became case-hardened after being cheated by several business partners.
- Describing metal that has been given a hard outer surface while remaining softer inside, usually through a heat treatment process.
- Case-hardened tools last longer because the surface resists scratches.
- The sword was case-hardened to make the blade tough but not brittle.
- The mechanic used case-hardened steel for the gears to reduce wear.