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toughen

[tuhf-uhn] / ˈtʌf ən /


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.

See Examples For:

Hurley’s brutal training sessions do more than toughen his team up.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 3, 2026

A bipartisan bill released Thursday would toughen penalties against preparers who improperly handle returns.

From MarketWatch Feb. 27, 2026

This week, Japan's new environment minister vowed to toughen bear controls, including by "training government hunters".

From Barron's Oct. 25, 2025

Any delay is likely to spark UK frustration, as it has long pressed Berlin to toughen up its rules and enforcement.

From BBC Oct. 24, 2025

The state of Texas was soon to toughen its test requirements, and Fort Worth was in danger of having as many as seventy schools classified as failing.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

The Sixers’ schedule toughens up next week with a game against Chicago, the 12th team in the East.

From Washington Times Dec. 11, 2023

The reform also toughens the rules on wiretapping, a hotly debated issue in Italy, by curbing the use in trials of tapped conversations involving people not under direct investigation.

From Reuters Jun. 15, 2023

They are challenging to get rid of, too: The eggs are protected inside the mother’s body, which toughens after death into a cyst that can survive in the soil for years.

From Science Magazine Feb. 27, 2022

Another toughens regulations for what can be used in compost.

From Seattle Times Dec. 29, 2021

The only thing that changed is that he calls me Space Boy twice as often, which only toughens my resolve not to press the button.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Europe, where governments have toughened their policies under pressure from the far right, "cannot claim to uphold human dignity while growing accustomed to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic becoming unmarked graves", he said.

From Barron's Jun. 12, 2026

Those calls intensified after Canada’s broadcaster regulator toughened those rules further, increasing the financial obligations of US streamers like Netflix.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 4, 2026

One bone of contention is a suspension clause toughened by parliament that would scrap favourable tariff conditions for US exporters, should the United States later breach the terms of the deal.

From Barron's May 19, 2026

The windows, vulnerable to shattering in extreme heat, are made of a toughened glass.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 2, 2026

The activities toughened up kids, building their endurance and determination.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

McVay understands that the “old-school way” of toughening and preparing players for a season can be achieved without “killing us on the field,” Adams said.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 5, 2026

Whilst countries differ in their approaches to tackling antisemitism – from toughening laws to improving education – they also identify common experiences, with near universal concern about the role of social media and artificial intelligence.

From BBC Jul. 29, 2026

Other states are considering following the lead of Oregon and California by toughening restrictions on corporate medicine.

From The Wall Street Journal May 14, 2026

Several nations are toughening up age restrictions on social media platforms as concerns grow over excessive screen time for children and their exposure to harmful content online.

From Barron's Mar. 11, 2026

As he ran, Wolf felt with joy how his pads were toughening, his limbs getting stronger with every Dark that passed.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver




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