Synonyms of toughening

toughening

verb

present participle of toughen

1

as in strengthening

to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force

weight lifting will help toughen those flabby muscles of yours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• hardening
• fortifying
• beefing (up)
• tempering
• annealing
• energizing
• invigorating
• vitalizing
• toning (up)
• firming (up)
• restrengthening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakening
• crippling
• debilitating
• hurting
• damaging
• impairing
• injuring
• paralyzing
• harming
• incapacitating
• enervating
• undermining
• enfeebling
• breaking down
• undercutting
• wearing out
• sapping

2

as in hardening

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure

hiking every morning through snow and ice toughened him considerably

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• hardening
• fortifying
• adjusting
• inuring
• steeling
• seasoning
• adapting
• bolstering
• reinforcing
• indurating
• bracing
• tempering
• enforcing
• acclimating
• annealing
• immunizing
• acclimatizing
• invigorating
• vitalizing
• conditioning
• buttressing
• boosting
• accustoming
• training
• supporting
• habituating
• propping (up)
• breaking in
• limbering (up)
• naturalizing
• forearming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softening
• weakening
• exhausting
• sapping
• crippling
• enervating
• debilitating
• incapacitating
• emasculating
• sensitizing
• enfeebling
• hamstringing

3

as in stiffening

to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe

attempts to toughen conditions under which waivers from military service would be permitted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• stiffening
• hardening
• harshening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easing
• softening
• lessening
• ameliorating
• moderating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of toughening

The tender side of Strout is her hopefulness—and that may be toughening up. — Literary Hub, 7 May 2026

In the nineties, hip-hop was toughening up the sound of American popular music; Jackson, fey and theatrical, seemed increasingly distant from the cultural mainstream. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 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