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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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
Changes and repairs also can be ordered by the Coast Guard, which has toughened its inspections and regulations for passenger vessels since September 2019, when a fire aboard a dive boat off the Channel Islands killed 34 people.
—
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2025
Rather than tempering its approach, Tennessee toughened it this year.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 June 2025
Besides toughening enforcement at the southern border, the administration has canceled or declined to renew work permits and other protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants, economist Lydia Boussour of EY-Parthenon wrote in a note to clients.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The House would toughen the individual Alternative Minimum Tax, hitting more than 4 million households.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2025
Rather than tempering its approach, Tennessee toughened it this year.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 June 2025
Besides toughening enforcement at the southern border, the administration has canceled or declined to renew work permits and other protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants, economist Lydia Boussour of EY-Parthenon wrote in a note to clients.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The House would toughen the individual Alternative Minimum Tax, hitting more than 4 million households.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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Accompanied by a business delegation, investment deals were inked, along with agreements to strengthen business ties.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
14 July 2025
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For example, strengthening your biceps can enhance your ability to perform a pull-up.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Iran rejects tight restrictions on its nuclear program and has hardened its stance after Israel and the U.S. targeted its nuclear facilities in June.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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They’d be hardened to anything that life and work threw their way.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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My forehead stiffened and went numb, like it was made of concrete that had suddenly set.—
Sarah Miller,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2025
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Many Republicans would like to stiffen the work requirements by requiring work of recipients who are up to age 65 or are the parents of children who are more than six years old.—
Tracy Roof,
The Conversation,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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