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
Either toughen up or use a mixer.
—
Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
The group is exploring using other semiconductors, such as diamond, to toughen the transmitter.
—Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
Senegal’s president signed a law Monday that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—Aleksandar Furtula, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
The group is exploring using other semiconductors, such as diamond, to toughen the transmitter.
—Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
Senegal’s president signed a law Monday that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—Aleksandar Furtula, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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Nexstar contends the deal would strengthen TV station economics, allowing stations to bolster their news gathering and expand the number of newscasts.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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The medication can help strengthen the floor-of-mouth muscles, keeping the dog’s airway more open.—
Taneia Surles,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Lightly scrub grout or tile lines before buildup hardens further.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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Emery prefers his players to be battle-hardened and to be involved in matches, rather than just training.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your Cardiovascular Health Can Improve Quickly Arteries naturally stiffen with age, which can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
11 Apr. 2026
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The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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