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toughen up

VERB

condition

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accustom brainwash educate

STRONG

equip habituate inure modify practice program ready sharpen train

WEAK

build up loosen up make ready shape up tone up warm up whip into shape work out work over

Antonyms

STRONG

forget neglect

VERB

temper

Synonyms

STRONG

anneal bake braze cement chill congeal dry indurate mold petrify set solidify starch steel stiffen strengthen toughen

Antonyms

STRONG

discourage dissuade liquefy melt separate soften weaken

WEAK

aggravate agitate bend excite flex infuriate upset

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You've got to toughen up and get on with it, but you know, the senior boys were great...

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

A tribunal then ruled low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of the APTs, and that changes made to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

There's also a wide-ranging sentencing bill expected from the Justice Minister Naomi Long in the next few months, which aims to tighten laws around sentencing for offences and toughen up hate crime legislation.

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025

Would you say you use beautiful melodies to soften an acerbic lyric or use acerbic lyrics to toughen up a beautiful melody?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2024

Once I even caught him talking to them, telling this sickly-looking fern that it better toughen up if it wanted to make it in the world.

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson

toughen up

Example Sentences

Related Words