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
Hastings said the Badgers (11-12-3 overall) have been toughened by the early adversity.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2025
With typical honesty, McKennie admits his career path has long toughened him up to the process.
—Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Now the schedule toughens again with games against Iowa and Southern California coming up.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025
Aly Song | Reuters BEIJING — China has toughened its tone following the Trump administration’s opening salvo of trade tariffs.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2025
With typical honesty, McKennie admits his career path has long toughened him up to the process.
—Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Now the schedule toughens again with games against Iowa and Southern California coming up.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025
Aly Song | Reuters BEIJING — China has toughened its tone following the Trump administration’s opening salvo of trade tariffs.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughen
Verb
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The ideal workout regimen incorporates both aerobic and resistance training exercises to strengthen both fiber types.8 Joint Impact Cycling, whether on an upright, recumbent, or outdoor bike, is a no-impact aerobic exercise.—
Tim Petrie, DPT,
Verywell Health,
5 Mar. 2025
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The New Zealand dollar strengthened to trade at 0.565 against the greenback.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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More frequent and severe disasters are forcing local governments to spend more on infrastructure — like sea walls, storm pumps, and hardening critical facilities — services that are funded largely through property taxes.—
Christopher Flavelle,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
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Already, Russia appears to be hardening its stance: Moscow has ruled out any peacekeepers from NATO-member countries in monitoring any peace settlement.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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At one point, the lower half of a student’s body can be seen stiffening before the student then falls to the ground similar to a boxer being knocked out.—
Rick Hurd,
The Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2025
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The big red button on the steering wheel stiffens suspension temporarily for keeping grip.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Toughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughen. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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