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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Recent Examples of toughen
Iran’s president toughens tone Pezeshkian said Iran’s military response would only strengthen.
—
Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Iran’s president toughens tone In video comments Sunday, Pezeshkian said Iran’s military response would only strengthen.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Running statewide, Bianco’s priorities include toughening public safety laws and addressing homelessness through law enforcement involvement.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
The union is calling on state lawmakers to toughen penalties for wage theft or ducking workers compensation and employee taxes.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Iran’s president toughens tone In video comments Sunday, Pezeshkian said Iran’s military response would only strengthen.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Running statewide, Bianco’s priorities include toughening public safety laws and addressing homelessness through law enforcement involvement.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
The union is calling on state lawmakers to toughen penalties for wage theft or ducking workers compensation and employee taxes.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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Teamwork strengthens as the caring Moon and triumphant Jupiter team up to support your casual friendships and deeper connections.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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The advisory will likely be extended through Friday afternoon and the winds will shift and strengthen.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials this year have increased restrictions on flying drones and stiffened the penalties for their unauthorized use—including jail time.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
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The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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