case-hardened

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Thân thiện

The judge remained case-hardened despite the defendant's emotional plea.

Definition

Adjective:
- Emotionally hardened or toughened: Describes a person who has become less sensitive or compassionate due to extensive, often difficult, experience. This emotional callousness is typically a result of repeated exposure to challenging situations.
- Made hard on the surface: In a technical or industrial context, it refers to a material, especially steel, that has been given a hard outer layer through a specific heating and cooling process (case-hardening). Note: While this is a valid technical meaning, the primary usage in general language is the emotional one.

Usage

The term is primarily used to describe a person's character or emotional state. It implies a degree of cynicism, resilience, or indifference that has developed over time.
It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of empathy or softness.
In technical contexts, it is used as a past participle verb to describe a material treatment process.

Examples

Adjective (Emotional):
- The case-hardened detective showed no reaction to the gruesome crime scene; he had seen it all before.
- After years of working in the emergency room, the nurse became somewhat case-hardened to human suffering.
- The lawyer warned his client that they would be facing a case-hardened judge known for giving maximum sentences.
Adjective (Technical):
- The gears were case-hardened to increase their wear resistance while maintaining a tough core.

Advanced Usage

"to be case-hardened against something": To have developed a strong emotional resistance or immunity to a particular type of situation.
- She had become case-hardened against criticism after years in the public eye.
Used metaphorically for institutions or systems.
- The bureaucracy was case-hardened and resistant to any form of change.

Variants and Related Words

Case-harden (verb): The process of making something or someone hardened.
- Technically: "The steel was case-hardened."
- Figuratively: "Years of combat had case-hardened the soldier."
Hardened (adjective): A more general synonym for emotionally toughened or physically made hard.
Hard-bitten (adjective): Tough and cynical from experience.
Inured (adjective): Accustomed to accepting something undesirable.

Synonyms

Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest.
Desensitized: Made less sensitive or responsive.
Jaded: Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm after having had too much of something.
Seasoned: Experienced and knowledgeable through long practice.
Toughened: Made stronger or more resilient.

Antonyms

Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
Sensitive: Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences; easily hurt or offended.
Tender-hearted: Having a kind, gentle, or sentimental nature.
Naive: Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

Related Idioms and Phrases

Thick-skinned: Not easily offended or upset by criticism.
Been around the block: Having a lot of experience in a particular area of life.
Hard as nails: Very tough and unsentimental.

The judge remained case-hardened despite the defendant's emotional plea.

Adjective

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