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

The availability of forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini could make the difference in tough autumn fixtures that include England, Ireland and France.

From BBC

Labour has also pledged tougher action to deal with small boat crossings over the English Channel, which are set to break record numbers this year.

From BBC

You guys are being too tough on Lincoln Riley.

From Los Angeles Times

The climate has been tough for many writers who have struggled to find work after enduring a 148-day strike in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times

"I think they had decided early on that you're only going to get the scale of change they want if you're very tough and very determined and every chance you get, you take the opportunity."

From BBC

Related Words

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