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
Senior forward Devan Cambridge believes UCF sometimes gets too comfortable and needs to toughen up, particularly on defense.
—
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2026
On her feet were a pair of custom Conquillas by Christian Louboutin, referencing the memorable fall winter 2014 shoes with a spiked silhouette and heelless platform—toughened up, but still reminiscent of the super-arched shoes of the Barbie era.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026
His detractors, however, criticize the mayor for focusing on short-term housing for the homeless at the expense of long-term solutions, threatening to arrest homeless people, and supporting Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed, that toughened penalties against repeat drug and theft offenses.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Unnerved by his son’s reverence, Big Ant keeps his distance from the boy and subtly pressures him to toughen up and abandon his artistic pursuits.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2026
On her feet were a pair of custom Conquillas by Christian Louboutin, referencing the memorable fall winter 2014 shoes with a spiked silhouette and heelless platform—toughened up, but still reminiscent of the super-arched shoes of the Barbie era.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026
His detractors, however, criticize the mayor for focusing on short-term housing for the homeless at the expense of long-term solutions, threatening to arrest homeless people, and supporting Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed, that toughened penalties against repeat drug and theft offenses.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Unnerved by his son’s reverence, Big Ant keeps his distance from the boy and subtly pressures him to toughen up and abandon his artistic pursuits.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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The project aims to strengthen security controls and increase automation across daily operations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Trump signed into law the first reconciliation bill passed by this Congress last year, extending his tax cuts, funding immigration enforcement, and strengthening work requirements for certain federal social welfare programs.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The facility had been recently hardened with a concrete shell and then covered with soil in the months before the current conflict.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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But there is a troubling shift that occurs when success hardens into excess and gives way to fear, a paradox that emerges all too often.—
Michael Sonnenfeldt,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the deputies put him back into the chair, Mitchell’s body stiffened, with his legs straight in front of him and his head lolling back.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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Leaving them out for too long can cause the fibers to stiffen.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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