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.

You've got to toughen up and get on with it, but you know, the senior boys were great...

From BBC

As he ran, Wolf felt with joy how his pads were toughening, his limbs getting stronger with every Dark that passed.

From Literature

Several nations are toughening up age restrictions on social media platforms as concerns grow over excessive screen time for children and their exposure to harmful content online.

From Barron's

The windows, vulnerable to shattering in extreme heat, are made of a toughened glass.

From Los Angeles Times

The British government said it had taken inspiration from Denmark, which has driven asylum applications to its lowest level in 40 years after toughening its own immigration stance.

From Barron's

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