toughen
Make more durable
Toughen means to make or become tough—harder, stronger, or more resilient.
You can toughen leather through treatment, toughen a child through discipline, or toughen regulations to make them stricter.
Years of farmwork toughened his hands.
She toughened up after the divorce.
The process works on materials, bodies, attitudes, or policies.
Make or become firm
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- weatherAtmospheric state outdoors
- withstandRemain intact despite pressure
- persistContinue firmly onward
adapt · survive · bounce back · recover · persevere · hold up · bear up · stand firm
State or stipulation
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- reinforceAdd strength to something
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- build upGrow by increments
develop · muscle · exercise · workout · drill · boost · enhance · empower
Cruelly insensitive to others
- numbLacking physical sensation
- inureAcclimatize to difficulty
- steel oneselfPrepare for difficulty
- immunizeConfer disease resistance
acclimate · accustom · habituate · deaden · blunt · dull · condition · grow cold
State of mind
- annealHeat-treat to strengthen
- cureTreatment that heals
- solidifyMake or become hard
- indurateTo harden physically
stiffen · set · firm · vulcanize · calcify · ossify · petrify · cement
Determination or abrasive particles
- mettleStrength of character
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- determinationFirmness of purpose
tenacity · perseverance · courage · stamina · willpower · spunk · pluck · nerve
Inflexibility in enforcement
- rigorStrict, thorough precision
- drillHole-boring device
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
structure · enforcement · severity · austerity · standards · accountability · correction · boot camp
harden
Make or become firm
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- weatherAtmospheric state outdoors
- withstandRemain intact despite pressure
persist · adapt · survive · bounce back · recover · persevere · hold up · bear up · stand firm · roll with punches
condition
State or stipulation
build up · develop · muscle · exercise · workout · drill · boost · enhance · empower · invigorate
callous
Cruelly insensitive to others
- numbLacking physical sensation
- inureAcclimatize to difficulty
- steel oneselfPrepare for difficulty
immunize · acclimate · accustom · habituate · deaden · blunt · dull · condition · grow cold · detach
temper
State of mind
indurate · stiffen · set · firm · vulcanize · calcify · ossify · petrify · cement · congeal
grit
Determination or abrasive particles
determination · tenacity · perseverance · courage · stamina · willpower · spunk · pluck · nerve · moxie
strictness
Inflexibility in enforcement
training · structure · enforcement · severity · austerity · standards · accountability · correction · boot camp · hardship
- tough luckDismissive acknowledgment of misfortune
- tough guyIntimidating, resilient person
- tough it outEndure without quitting
- tough loveBeneficial strictness from affection
- tough as nailsExceptionally strong and durable
- toughen upBecome less easily hurt
tough, toughness, tougher, toughest, toughened, toughs, toughening, toughens, toughed