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

Nike’s stock has entered a pessimistic technical formation called a “death cross,” a sign of the tough times the sneaker maker has encountered.

Read more on MarketWatch

Jaxson Dart’s possible return offers a lift, but Detroit has too much offensive firepower and is tough at home.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We continued to make good progress with our strategic objectives in the quarter, against what remains a tough market backdrop,” Chief Executive Regis Schultz said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"There's just been so much to do and so much to learn. It's definitely tough when we're all working for something and then you fall back," he said.

Read more on BBC

Gill was appointed Test captain and drew a tough Test series in England 2-2 before leading India's 2-0 whitewash of the West Indies at home.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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