# toughen

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈtʌfən/ · frequency rank #44,534

## Definitions
1. To make tough.
2. To become tough.

## Etymology
From tough + -en.

## Easily confused with
- **tougher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/toughen-vs-tougher)
- **tough** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tough-vs-toughen)
- **touched** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/touched-vs-toughen)
- **touches** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/touches-vs-toughen)

## Common misspellings (10)
`otughen`, `toguhen`, `tougehn`, `tougghen`, `toughenn`, `toughhen`, `toughne`, `touhgen`, `ttoughen`, `tuoghen`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/toughen