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.

A bipartisan bill released Thursday would toughen penalties against preparers who improperly handle returns.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

Australia's leaders have agreed to toughen laws that allowed Sajid Akram to own six guns.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

Such prohibitions exist in dozens of states, but many doctors, nurses and policymakers want to toughen them up as a buttress against private equity’s influence in the sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025

A tribunal then ruled low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of the APTs, and that changes made to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Hoping to toughen up their stick-skinny fourteen-year-old, Robert’s parents sent him to a sports summer camp.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

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