1
as in strengthening
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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2
as in hardening
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 stiffening
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
attempts to toughen conditions under which waivers from military service would be permitted
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughening
Verb
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded in 1980 by Candy Lightner and has succeeded in strengthening DUI laws across the nation.—
Leslie Hoyle Guerra, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
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His work focuses on expanding access, strengthening global engagement, and creating practical pathways that can help institutions connect with learners across borders.—
Verb
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Propose a clear boundary with a sibling (or close friend) to stop resentment from hardening.—
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Those upgrades involve hardening vulnerable infrastructure, improving outage detection and restoration, and preparing the grid for increasingly extreme weather.—
Verb
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Look for signs like the cat stopping purring, stiffening, thrashing their tail, or hissing.—
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Afterwards, a squaring solution—a powdery mixture of water and a gel-like batter used in the decorative cake business—is applied to the inside of the hat’s crown to act as a stiffening agent.—
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Cite this Entry
“Toughening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughening. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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