toughening
Becoming more durable
Toughening is the process of becoming or making something tougher—more resistant, resilient, or hardened.
The word applies to materials toughening glass through heat treatment, to people years of toughening had made her immune to criticism, and to abstract things like standards or policies a toughening of immigration enforcement.
Becoming less soft
- temperingControlled heating and cooling
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- solidifyingBecoming rigid or fixed
- stiffeningBecoming less pliable
reinforcing · curing · annealing · vulcanizing · casehardening · calcifying · ossifying · cementing
Determination or abrasive particles
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
stamina · fortitude · mettle · backbone · resolve · willpower · pluck · bounceback
Adjusting to new conditions
- inuringAccustoming to hardship
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
- desensitizingReducing responsiveness to stimulus
accustoming · acclimation · adaptation · familiarization · callousing · immunizing · hardening · steeling
Hole-making by rotation
- exercisingActive physical exertion
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
workout · bootcamp · preparation · repetition · strengthening · progression · coaching · spartan
hardening
Becoming less soft
- temperingControlled heating and cooling
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- solidifyingBecoming rigid or fixed
stiffening · reinforcing · curing · annealing · vulcanizing · casehardening · calcifying · ossifying · cementing · crystallizing
grit
Determination or abrasive particles
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
steadfastness · stamina · fortitude · mettle · backbone · resolve · willpower · pluck · bounceback · recovery
acclimatizing
Adjusting to new conditions
- inuringAccustoming to hardship
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
desensitizing · accustoming · acclimation · adaptation · familiarization · callousing · immunizing · hardening · steeling · preparing
drilling
Hole-making by rotation
- exercisingActive physical exertion
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
discipline · workout · bootcamp · preparation · repetition · strengthening · progression · coaching · spartan · rigor
adversity
Severe difficulty or suffering
- tribulationState of great distress
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
suffering · trial · challenge · difficulty · obstacle · setback · privation · austerity · crucible · test
- hardeninghardening, stiffening, solidification, solidifying, rigidifying
- reinforcingreinforcing, strengthening, supporting, bolstering, shoring
tougheningsoftening
Becoming less firm
tenderizing · mellowing · loosening · relaxing · plasticizing
tougheningweakening
Becoming less strong
deteriorating · degrading · undermining · debilitating · enfeebling
- toughening upBecoming less sensitive
tough, toughness, toughen, toughie, toughest, toughened, toughens, toughly, toughy