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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Many of them urged the shah to toughen up and crack down harder on protesters.
—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Subaru sharpened it, toughened it and elevated it.
—
Tim Jackson,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
The moves toughen the environment in Brazil for giants like Google, Meta and TikTok, who have long tried to dissociate themselves with crimes online committed by users.
—
ABC News,
20 May 2026
The tender side of Strout is her hopefulness—and that may be toughening up.
—
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Subaru sharpened it, toughened it and elevated it.
—
Tim Jackson,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
The moves toughen the environment in Brazil for giants like Google, Meta and TikTok, who have long tried to dissociate themselves with crimes online committed by users.
—
ABC News,
20 May 2026
The tender side of Strout is her hopefulness—and that may be toughening up.
—
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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Communicate early, and friendships strengthen naturally.
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Practical choices now strengthen long-term confidence.
Verb
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The company is offering several products at no cost for a limited period or at a 90% discount on one-year term licenses, targeting customers who need to further harden Oracle Database environments but have delayed investment due to cost, complexity, or procurement friction.
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As that assumption erodes, attention has shifted from hardening GPS toward security through diversification.
Verb
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Major media companies operating traditional linear networks have been under pressure in recent years amid stiffening competition from large tech rivals as programming migrates to streaming.
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To execute its ruthless 66-pound weight loss program, the rear seats have been completely deleted, replaced by a massive structural strut brace that significantly stiffens the chassis.
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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