toughened up
Grew thicker skin
Toughened up means made stronger, more resilient, or less sensitive—usually through experience or deliberate effort.
Someone who has toughened up can handle difficulties that would have overwhelmed them before: Boot camp toughened him up.
The phrase often implies emotional hardening: She toughened up after years in the industry.
As a command, toughen up tells someone to stop being soft or complaining.
- strengthenedMade more robust
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- battle-testedProven through actual combat
- weatheredEroded by exposure
- perseverantSteadfast despite obstacles
fortified · resolute · determined · tempered · acclimated · robust · seasoned · conditioned · stoic · roughened · roughed up · trained · calloused · experienced · learned the hard way · prepared · durable · solidified
toughened upsoftened up
Made less resistant
weakened · softened · broke down · broken down · worn down
toughened upsoftened
Made less severe
weakened · atrophied · deconditioned · wasted away · gone to seed
tough, toughen, toughened, toughening, toughens, toughly, toughness, tougher, toughest