The suffix associated with “hardening” is “-sclerosis”. This suffix is commonly found in medical terms and refers to the process of tissue or organ hardening, often due to abnormal conditions or diseases. For example, the term atherosclerosis describes the hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which can result from plaque buildup. Similarly, sclerosis is a more general term used to indicate hardening in various parts of the body, such as multiple sclerosis, which affects the nervous system. This suffix is frequently used in clinical contexts to describe conditions where tissues lose their elasticity or normal function, becoming abnormally rigid.