TOUGHENING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

toughening

verb

present participle of toughen

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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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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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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of toughening But early in his House tenure, Mitchell also helped pass a measure toughening penalties for people convicted of violent mob attacks organized through social media. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Their rugged shape acts as a welcome counterpoint, toughening up outfits with a particular cool girl edge. — Nuria Luis, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Greece’s conservative government has been toughening its migration policies. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 The tender side of Strout is her hopefulness—and that may be toughening up. — Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 In the nineties, hip-hop was toughening up the sound of American popular music; Jackson, fey and theatrical, seemed increasingly distant from the cultural mainstream. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 Running statewide, Bianco’s priorities include toughening public safety laws and addressing homelessness through law enforcement involvement. — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughening

Verb

These questions shift technology governance from managing individual problems toward strengthening organizational adaptability.

— Chandini Sheeba, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Eizenkot has campaigned on restoring public trust in government, strengthening Israel’s security, and preserving its foundation as a Jewish democracy.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of strengthening

Verb

But hardening schools and practicing lockdown drills, among other steps to reduce school shootings, are not making young people feel safer.

— Nina Vinik, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Residents, meanwhile, can give firefighters the best shot at stopping a potential disaster by clearing flammable vegetation in their yards and fire-hardening their homes.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of hardening

Verb

Proposition 132 attempts to address these concerns by stiffening legal penalties.

— Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
But one of the positives Glenn highlighted was the defense stiffening in the red zone against Chicago, which went 2 of 7 inside the New York 20-yard line.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of stiffening

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toughened

toughening

toughens

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“Toughening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughening. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of toughening

verb

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