Synonyms

toughen

American

[tuhf-uhn] / ˈtʌf ən /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become tough or tougher.

Synonyms:

stiffen, strengthen, firm, harden

toughen British

/ ˈtʌfən /

verb

to make or become tough or tougher

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

toughener noun

Etymology

Origin of toughen

First recorded in 1575–85; tough + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"In one way it toughened me. But I would have preferred a normal childhood, with friends, with joy," he said, his room decorated with a large painting of his hometown.

From Barron's

Critics say the Act needs to be toughened to make the internet safer, particularly for women and girls.

From BBC

Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy have all toughened immigration enforcement in recent years in an attempt to stop a surge in asylum seekers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Legal scholars, however, say the recent criticism of provisional sentences ignores more than a decade of legislation and jurisprudence aimed at toughening up a legal system that can take years to reach a final verdict.

From The Wall Street Journal

This week, Japan's new environment minister vowed to toughen bear controls, including by "training government hunters".

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023