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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of toughen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Assembly Democrats are fracturing over California legislative leaders’ decision to make changes to some retail theft bills that are designed to derail a controversial November ballot initiative aimed at toughening laws against such crimes.
—
Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 17 June 2024
Last year, the state budget came together a month late, with Hochul ramming a plan to toughen the state’s bail laws through the left-leaning Legislature.
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2024
As recently as the 1960s, some high-level athletes were still being encouraged to drink as little as possible, wrongly told that doing so would prevent cramps or toughen them up.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Israeli officials and families of hostages are concerned Netanyahu, who recently toughened his demands and presented new conditions for a hostage and ceasefire deal, sent the delegation only to create an appearance of negotiations to relieve some of the pressure from President Biden.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toughen 
Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 17 June 2024
Last year, the state budget came together a month late, with Hochul ramming a plan to toughen the state’s bail laws through the left-leaning Legislature.
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2024
As recently as the 1960s, some high-level athletes were still being encouraged to drink as little as possible, wrongly told that doing so would prevent cramps or toughen them up.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Israeli officials and families of hostages are concerned Netanyahu, who recently toughened his demands and presented new conditions for a hostage and ceasefire deal, sent the delegation only to create an appearance of negotiations to relieve some of the pressure from President Biden.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for toughen
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toughen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near toughen
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share