Toughen
verb
To make stronger or more difficult to damage.
The experiences he had during his childhood toughened him up, making him resilient.
Often appears as...
- toughen up
- toughen the skin
verb
To become stronger or more difficult to damage.
The plant toughens up when exposed to cold weather.
Often appears as...
- toughen under pressure
- toughen in the cold
verb
To make rules or laws more strict or difficult to evade.
The government plans to toughen the laws against drunk driving.
Often appears as...
- toughen laws
- toughen rules
Usage tips
Legal
verb
To make stronger or more difficult to damage.
The experiences he had during his childhood toughened him up, making him resilient.
Often appears as...
- toughen up
- toughen the skin
verb
To become stronger or more difficult to damage.
The plant toughens up when exposed to cold weather.
Often appears as...
- toughen under pressure
- toughen in the cold
verb
To make rules or laws more strict or difficult to evade.
The government plans to toughen the laws against drunk driving.
Often appears as...
- toughen laws
- toughen rules
Usage tips
Legal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Growth
Often describes personal development through challenges.
Living abroad toughened her up considerably.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Strength
Can imply developing emotional resilience, not just physical.
He toughened up after years of competitive sports.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparedness
Used for indicating readiness for difficult situations.
Soldiers must toughen up before deployment.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Growth
Often describes personal development through challenges.
Living abroad toughened her up considerably.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Strength
Can imply developing emotional resilience, not just physical.
He toughened up after years of competitive sports.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparedness
Used for indicating readiness for difficult situations.
Soldiers must toughen up before deployment.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Growth
Often describes personal development through challenges.
Living abroad toughened her up considerably.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Strength
Can imply developing emotional resilience, not just physical.
He toughened up after years of competitive sports.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparedness
Used for indicating readiness for difficult situations.
Soldiers must toughen up before deployment.
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Video examples
Episode 6: Practice...
there's not a lot of hazards so that while they're getting toughened in they don't usually have any injuries and so it allows us to get a lot of dogs run in the fall while we're still checking out which ones are actually gonna be part of the main core hey go straight ahead I think the truck mushing is important to
Video examples
Why do people have...
Called the hygiene hypothesis, the idea is that when the immune system isn't exposed to the familiar cast of microbes, it'll keep itself busy mounting defenses against harmless substances, like pollen. Another theory is that an immune system toughened up by a barrage of pathogens
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 35 PIPE...
mean I remember having a discussion with some of our viewers about that it seems curious that a giraffe would need to protect its tongue from the Sun because you don't really see them sunbathing with their tongues out but also to toughen it against the impact of
Video examples
Why school should start...
Often the argument against later start times goes something like "Why should we delay start times for teenagers? We need to toughen them up so they're ready for the real world!" But that's like saying to the parent of a two-year-old,
Video examples
Lion Cubs Fight To Feed...
night and they're definitely gonna get the worst of it but it'll toughen them up for the big bad world the problem is that the older Cubs are also keen to suckle and the smallest day appears to be constantly pushed away
Video examples
Elon Musk: The future...
we think it will look great, and it will last -- We thought about having the warranty be infinity, but then people thought, well, that might sound like were just talking rubbish, but actually this is toughened glass.
Video examples
Beyond Race PIPE National...
people were not only toughening up they were lightening up as well our African ancestors would have had relatively dark-skinned Galatz of sunlight it's a very tropical place you need some way of protecting your skin
Video examples
Bryce Dallas Howard: How...
My mom wanted to toughen us up so we'd have more courage and less fear when dealing with uncomfortable situations. So that meant zero coddling.
Video examples
Incredible Animal...
With so many chicks in her care, stragglers won't be tolerated. He will just have to toughen up.
Video examples
Baby Penguin Dodges...
with so many chicks in her care stragglers won't be tolerated he will just have to toughen up
Video examples
Episode 6: Practice...
there's not a lot of hazards so that while they're getting toughened in they don't usually have any injuries and so it allows us to get a lot of dogs run in the fall while we're still checking out which ones are actually gonna be part of the main core hey go straight ahead I think the truck mushing is important to
Video examples
Why do people have...
Called the hygiene hypothesis, the idea is that when the immune system isn't exposed to the familiar cast of microbes, it'll keep itself busy mounting defenses against harmless substances, like pollen. Another theory is that an immune system toughened up by a barrage of pathogens
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 35 PIPE...
mean I remember having a discussion with some of our viewers about that it seems curious that a giraffe would need to protect its tongue from the Sun because you don't really see them sunbathing with their tongues out but also to toughen it against the impact of
Video examples
Why school should start...
Often the argument against later start times goes something like "Why should we delay start times for teenagers? We need to toughen them up so they're ready for the real world!" But that's like saying to the parent of a two-year-old,
Video examples
Lion Cubs Fight To Feed...
night and they're definitely gonna get the worst of it but it'll toughen them up for the big bad world the problem is that the older Cubs are also keen to suckle and the smallest day appears to be constantly pushed away
Video examples
Elon Musk: The future...
we think it will look great, and it will last -- We thought about having the warranty be infinity, but then people thought, well, that might sound like were just talking rubbish, but actually this is toughened glass.
Video examples
Beyond Race PIPE National...
people were not only toughening up they were lightening up as well our African ancestors would have had relatively dark-skinned Galatz of sunlight it's a very tropical place you need some way of protecting your skin
Video examples
Bryce Dallas Howard: How...
My mom wanted to toughen us up so we'd have more courage and less fear when dealing with uncomfortable situations. So that meant zero coddling.
Video examples
Incredible Animal...
With so many chicks in her care, stragglers won't be tolerated. He will just have to toughen up.
Video examples
Baby Penguin Dodges...
with so many chicks in her care stragglers won't be tolerated he will just have to toughen up
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Billy Monger
British Driver
It's been my dream to race in F1 since I was eight. I don't see why that should change just because I've changed. It's a big challenge but I like to push myself. The accident has toughened me up and made me realise what's important. It's spurred me on to get to F1.
Quote examples
Aljamain Sterling
American Athlete
I had to learn to toughen up and fend for myself. You'd think when you have a lot of brothers and sisters, they'd come to your aid and rescue you a lot of times, but for us it wasn't really like that. It was tough love.
Quote examples
Joe Gomez
English Athlete
It means a lot to me to be from London. Obviously, it's where I spent the majority of my life, it's where I learnt a lot about different cultures and different people, and it toughened me up at times.
Quote examples
Marc Warren
English Actor
Life as an actor has toughened me up, and I've learned that you shouldn't take things too personally. Someone once said that to do this job you need talent, luck and a thick skin - which is so true.
Quote examples
Ed Sheeran
English Musician
I've had years of teasing about my red hair, but I definitely think it toughened me up. If you're ginger, you end up pretty quick-witted.
Quote examples
Adam Cohen
American Journalist
Congress needs to toughen the laws protecting elections and make clear that anyone interfering with democracy will pay a stiff price.
Quote examples
Bernard Sumner
English Musician
There's challenges in life that present themselves unexpectedly, and if you rise to them, then those challenges will toughen you up.
Quote examples
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Premier League is the top league in the world. It's definitely toughened me up and mentally made me into the person I am now.
Quote examples
Paul Begala
American Journalist
I think too many Democrats are too wimpy. But I think they're beginning to toughen up.
Quote examples
Michael Madsen
American Actor
Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else.
Quote examples
Billy Monger
British Driver
It's been my dream to race in F1 since I was eight. I don't see why that should change just because I've changed. It's a big challenge but I like to push myself. The accident has toughened me up and made me realise what's important. It's spurred me on to get to F1.
Quote examples
Aljamain Sterling
American Athlete
I had to learn to toughen up and fend for myself. You'd think when you have a lot of brothers and sisters, they'd come to your aid and rescue you a lot of times, but for us it wasn't really like that. It was tough love.
Quote examples
Joe Gomez
English Athlete
It means a lot to me to be from London. Obviously, it's where I spent the majority of my life, it's where I learnt a lot about different cultures and different people, and it toughened me up at times.
Quote examples
Marc Warren
English Actor
Life as an actor has toughened me up, and I've learned that you shouldn't take things too personally. Someone once said that to do this job you need talent, luck and a thick skin - which is so true.
Quote examples
Ed Sheeran
English Musician
I've had years of teasing about my red hair, but I definitely think it toughened me up. If you're ginger, you end up pretty quick-witted.
Quote examples
Adam Cohen
American Journalist
Congress needs to toughen the laws protecting elections and make clear that anyone interfering with democracy will pay a stiff price.
Quote examples
Bernard Sumner
English Musician
There's challenges in life that present themselves unexpectedly, and if you rise to them, then those challenges will toughen you up.
Quote examples
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The Premier League is the top league in the world. It's definitely toughened me up and mentally made me into the person I am now.
Quote examples
Paul Begala
American Journalist
I think too many Democrats are too wimpy. But I think they're beginning to toughen up.
Quote examples
Michael Madsen
American Actor
Encourage your kids' artistic side. Toughen up everything else.
Example 1 of 10
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