toughen

verb

tough·​en ˈtə-fən How to pronounce toughen (audio)
toughened; toughening ˈtə-fə-niŋ How to pronounce toughen (audio)
ˈtəf-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to become tough

Examples of toughen in a Sentence

The government is toughening antidrug laws. weight lifting will help toughen those flabby muscles of yours
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The House would toughen the individual Alternative Minimum Tax, hitting more than 4 million households. Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Inspired by escalating retail theft, the initiative toughened penalties for certain property and hard-drug crimes, such as peddling deadly fentanyl. George Skelton, Mercury News, 25 June 2025 The theory was that Nelson would learn to protect his team’s penalty area and to stand up to physical, second-division strikers who could toughen the lad up. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Speaking at a meeting of leaders of countries in southeast Europe held in Odesa, Zelenskyy urged the European Union to toughen its latest package of sanctions now being prepared. Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for toughen

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of toughen was in 1582

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Cite this Entry

“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toughen. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

toughen

verb
tough·​en ˈtəf-ən How to pronounce toughen (audio)
toughened; toughening ˈtəf-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce toughen (audio)
: to make or become tough

More from Merriam-Webster on toughen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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