Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive & intransitive verb To make or become tough. synonym: harden.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Specifically, of copper, in its metallurgy, the elimination of the foreign metals as oxids and of copper oxid itself, changing the qualities of the cast from brittleness to ductility.
  • To grow tough or tougher.
  • To make tough or tougher.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • verb To grow or make tough, or tougher.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To make tough.
  • verb intransitive To become tough.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb make tough or tougher

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • You gotta fuckin toughen up with the cold and fuckin dealin with rugged not you average fuck around kinda guy.

    Fishing In Alaska 2006

  • Eventually, the skin will "toughen," and your child won't feel as much discomfort.

    Pediatric surgery: Central Line/Subcutaneous Port 2008

  • It's really cute--but you could "toughen" it's image up to make it more "Terp" appropriate.

    Oh Boy, Get Out the Credit Card...New Cupcake Books Galore!! Cupcake Queen 2006

  • : He thought he was about to be put into one of those vile Boys Bands that the Tedrels used to " toughen" the boys.

    Exile's Valor Lackey, Mercedes 2003

  • : He thought he was about to be put into one of those vile Boys Bands that the Tedrels used to " toughen" the boys.

    Exile's Valor Lackey, Mercedes 2003

  • Well – you must "toughen" your plants more gently than that.

    Gardening by Myself 1872

  • Oh and don't do anything silly like "toughen" your feet.

    Army Rumour Service 2010

  • Oh and don't do anything silly like "toughen" your feet.

    Army Rumour Service 2010

  • Oh and don't do anything silly like "toughen" your feet.

    Army Rumour Service 2010

  • The president, who huddled with cabinet members in the secure Situation Room on Monday "to decide on next steps," also requested that legislation be sent to Congress to "toughen" and reform existing law on caps on damages linked to oil spills, the White House said.

    Turkish Press 2010

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