TOUGHENED Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

toughened 1 of 2

adjective

as in sturdy

able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure a group of toughened mountain bikers barreling up the hill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

toughened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of toughen

as in strengthened

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hardened

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure hiking every morning through snow and ice toughened him considerably

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stiffened

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

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 toughened

Adjective

But her thickened skin, along with her toughened reputation, felt supple now. — Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 Trump announced a toughened stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine on Monday, setting a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions. — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 July 2025

Verb

Italy also temporarily toughened controls on travel from the country. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 But after Martínez-Olguín set the trial for March 2 — instead of November as Paramount had asked — the company grew antsy and toughened its legal tactics. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Officials have also toughened their stance on capital leaving the country. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 The polo top denotes a sense of put-togetherness, with any sense of stuffiness softened when styled with feminine skirts or toughened up with denim and leather. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 July 2026 Britain has increasingly toughened its approach to tech firms, urging or forcing them to adapt their algorithms and, most recently, prevent children from circulating nude images taken on mobile phones. — Paul Sandle, USA Today, 16 June 2026 Subaru sharpened it, toughened it and elevated it. — Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Scheffler started hot but cooled off as conditions toughened later in the day. — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026 His detractors, however, criticize the mayor for focusing on short-term housing for the homeless at the expense of long-term solutions, threatening to arrest homeless people, and supporting Proposition 36, which Newsom opposed, that toughened penalties against repeat drug and theft offenses. — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughened

Adjective

The shoes balanced on a slender yet sturdy stiletto heel measuring around three inches.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
The result has been sturdy economic growth, even as lower-income and even middle-income households have continued to struggle under stubborn inflation and declining earnings.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sturdy

Verb

Her creative expression extended beyond the runway into cultural moments that further strengthened the brand’s presence in fashion.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Erdogan’s attempt to foster an Ottoman-style pan-Islamism appears to have accelerated liberalization rather than strengthened religious conformity.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of strengthened

Verb

Now the companies that recover fastest treat a short, honest, imperfect first statement as more valuable than a polished one that arrives after the narrative has already hardened.

— Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But fair reporting has been the exception, and in the space left by our silence, speculation has hardened into something being treated as fact.

— Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hardened

Verb

The Chiefs’ defense stiffened and Indy faced a fourth-and-8 from the 15-yard line.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
But after a quick touchdown drive to take a 34-27 lead, the Oregon defense stiffened, and closed out the win with back-to-back stops.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of stiffened

Adjective

Although generally hardy, the plant is susceptible to certain diseases, including anthracnose and bacterial soft rot, as well as pests such as spider mites, caterpillars, and whiteflies.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Cold-hardy brassicas like kale only need to be covered when temperatures fall to 26 to 28°F, and light frosts potentially make these veggies taste better and sweeter.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of hardy

Adjective

But zest was one of just two strengths (the other is hope) that had the strongest relationship to mental well-being across countries and age groups.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of strong

Adjective

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen went six-plus tough innings.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Christened Invision, the 328-footer is designed as a rugged, bluewater cruiser with a superyacht’s style, comfort, and finish.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Mage was ready to overlook anything—the minuscule bedrooms, the historical restrictions, the rugged location that puts it at a high fire risk—for the light.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rugged

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toughen

toughened

toughening

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“Toughened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughened. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of toughened

adjective

verb

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