1
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
weight lifting will help toughen those flabby muscles of yours
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to harden
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
hiking every morning through snow and ice toughened him considerably
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3
as in to stiffen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
attempts to toughen conditions under which waivers from military service would be permitted
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toughen
These can dry out or toughen quickly.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Many of the steps that governments could take to protect and toughen their second-strike capabilities risk alarming rivals, potentially spurring expensive and dangerous arms races.
—Sam Winter-Levy, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2025
The most powerful are those toughened by formidable competitors.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
For example, perhaps the individuals living in the Amud cave preferred to dry out their carcasses before processing them, which would have toughened the meat and required different cutting strategies.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Many of the steps that governments could take to protect and toughen their second-strike capabilities risk alarming rivals, potentially spurring expensive and dangerous arms races.
—Sam Winter-Levy, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2025
The most powerful are those toughened by formidable competitors.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
For example, perhaps the individuals living in the Amud cave preferred to dry out their carcasses before processing them, which would have toughened the meat and required different cutting strategies.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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The farmer's innovation exemplifies prosocial AI; systems that are tailored, trained, tested and targeted to bring out the best in and for people and planet; technology that is designed to strengthen rather than extract from social fabric.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Economists expect the yuan could strengthen to 7 per dollar by the end of this year — a conviction driven in large part by Beijing's efforts to revive economic growth and encourage more investment onshore.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The seafloor within the rings around the barrels had hardened like concrete, preventing them from collecting samples with a coring device that would be inserted into the seafloor.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Sep. 2025
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In analysis sent to Newsweek, global risk firm RANE said the incident could accelerate NATO's air defense integration and harden its posture toward Russia.—
Brendan Cole
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet that comes as experts say competition among convenience stores is stiffening.—
Natalie Rice,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Despite herself, Cali stiffened.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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