Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to toughen

to toughen

15 3.9
To make a person or thing stronger so it can handle hard situations
  • verb
  • /ˈtʌfən/
translation icon : endurecer
  • I mean, the kids get picked on a little, but it toughens them up.

You have to find that self, that peace within yourself and toughen your skin, get alligator hide because it's coming and it is going to come.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Yes, I know people tell me to toughen up and my life has been about strengthening my mind in the face of my limits.

    Lex Fridman

  • But there is something to when you exercise every day, you're you're toughening your mind like you're just practicing doing something hard.

  • I need to toughen up if I'm going to get ahead.

    DoctorRamani

  • But you toughen up from those sorts of situations.

    Rob Moore

  • When I talked about my self introduction to Stoicism, I said all I was really trying to do was toughen myself.

  • And Diogenes himself was known for doing exercises to toughen the body.

  • Now, after living outside for the last few months, I had gradually toughened and was able to make it without trouble.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • But what if her history of hardships had toughened her so much that she needed no protection?

    Fiction book (1997)

  • We Maine men know that life in the woods of Maine... ...toughens the muscles and stretches the sinews.

    Gods and Generals (2003)

  • The coach encouraged the players to toughen up through rigorous training and mental exercises.

Synonyms

to strengthen
vsto toughen
327 3.0

To make muscles, relationships, or groups stronger

focuses on becoming more resilient or resistant rather than general strength
to toughen up
vsto toughen
  • Informal
17 4.2

To become or to make someone mentally stronger and less hurt by criticism

applies more broadly to both physical and mental resilience
to fortify
vsto toughen
3 5.1

Make something stronger by adding support or protection

emphasizes inner ability to resist stress rather than physical defenses
to roughen up
vsto toughen
  • Informal
1 5.7

To make a surface not smooth or a person tougher

focuses on lasting resilience and resistance rather than texture or aggression
to grow some skin
vsto toughen
  • Informal
9.4

To become less upset by criticism or problems

covers both physical and mental strengthening rather than only emotional

Antonyms

to weaken
305 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

to soften
50 3.1

Make something less strong or harsh

Phrasal Verbs

to toughen up
  • Informal
17 4.2

To become or to make someone mentally stronger and less hurt by criticism

How Tough

to harden
27 2.6
to fortify
3 5.1
to strengthen
327 3.0
to toughen
15 3.9
to condition
  • Specialized
49 4.2

Surface Forms

toughen infinitive
toughened past
toughened past participle
toughening present participle
toughens third person singular

Morphology

toughen = tough (transparent) = tough + en

Formed by the productive verbalizing suffix '-en' added to the adjective 'tough', yielding the clear meaning 'make or become tough'.

Etymology

Toughen comes from the simple word tough, which means 'strong' or 'hard', and the ending -en which means 'to make'. So to toughen someone or something is to 'make stronger' or more able to deal with hard conditions.