toughen
verb (used with or without object)
had toughened
-
past perfectof toughen.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
He added that his party had toughened up sentencing powers so criminals spent longer in prison.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2023
Louisiana announced in mid-June that it had toughened its coronavirus testing requirements for nursing homes, after some facilities didn’t follow earlier voluntary testing standards recommended by the state.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 9, 2020
But Immigration Minister Mark Harper said the government had "toughened the rules to ensure that genuine students are not taken advantage of by organisations looking to sell immigration not education".
From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2012
When Unit turned up again in the Tenth Doctor story The Poison Sky, the organisation had toughened up and skewed its moral compass.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 23, 2011
The Bamiyan sun had toughened his skin, and turned it several shades darker than I remembered, and he had lost a few of his front teeth.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
