tough

[tuhf]

adjective

tougher, toughest 

1. strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.

   Synonyms: hard, firm
   Antonyms: fragile

2. not brittle or tender.

3. difficult to masticate, as food.

   a tough steak.

4. of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter.

   tough molasses.

5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy.

   tough troops.

   Synonyms: durable
   Antonyms: weak, feeble

6. not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn.

   a tough man to work for.

   Synonyms: inflexible

7. hardened; incorrigible.

   a tough criminal.

8. difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome.

   a tough problem.

9. hard to bear or endure (often used ironically).

   tough luck.

10. vigorous; severe; violent.

    a tough struggle.

11. vicious; rough; rowdyish.

    a tough character;

    a tough neighborhood.

12. practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.

13. Slang.,  remarkably excellent; first-rate; great.

adverb

1. in a tough manner.

noun

1. a ruffian; rowdy.

tough

/ tʌf /

adjective

1. strong or resilient; durable

   a tough material

2. not tender

   he could not eat the tough steak

3. having a great capacity for endurance; hardy and fit

   a tough mountaineer

4. rough or pugnacious

   a tough gangster

5. resolute or intractable

   a tough employer

6. difficult or troublesome to do or deal with

   a tough problem

7. informal,  unfortunate or unlucky

   it's tough on him

noun

1. a rough, vicious, or pugnacious person

adverb

1. informal,  violently, aggressively, or intractably

   to treat someone tough

2. informal,  to be or appear to be strong or determined

verb

1. slang,  (tr) to stand firm, hold out against (a difficulty or difficult situation) (esp in tough it out )

Other Word Forms

• toughly adverb
• toughness noun
• supertough adjective
• untough adjective
• untoughly adverb
• untoughness noun
• toughish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tough¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (adjective); Old English tōh; compare Dutch taai, German zäh(e)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tough¹

Old English tōh; related to Old High German zāhi tough, Old Norse tā trodden ground in front of a house

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hang tough, hang.

2. tough it out, to endure or resist hardship or adversity.

More idioms and phrases containing tough

• get tough
• gut (tough) it out
• hang tough
• hard (tough) act to follow
• hard (tough) nut to crack

Example Sentences

"New York's a tough place to play for anyone. I even got a few comments to play better."

From BBC

He added that the talks were "tough and have yet to produce any real breakthrough", but noted that mediators were working hard to narrow the gaps between the two sides.

From BBC

The Labour government is trying to cut levels of immigration into the UK and announced a tough policy on settlement status at the party's conference last week.

From BBC

Ertonguc is advocating for retail licensing, mandatory age checks, pre-market product testing and clearer health warnings to reflect the risk profile of vaping compared to smoking, and tougher penalties for those who break the rules.

From BBC

However, that is no longer the case, as an initial mix of tough words from boss Brad Arthur and a supportive environment since then have allowed Connor to thrive.

From BBC

Related Words

• desperate 
• fierce 
• hard 
• hard-nosed 
• harsh 
• narrow 
• resolute 
• severe 
• stern 
• stiff 
• strict 
• terrible