tough-minded
Americanadjective
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characterized by a practical, unsentimental attitude or point of view.
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strong-willed; vigorous; not easily swayed.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tough-minded
First recorded in 1905–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the 1970s, when they won their only two NBA titles, the Knicks were known as a "blue-collar, hard-working, tough-minded team," according to Adam Criblez, author of a book on the squad.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
If the business-casual look is par for the course in American politics, it’s less common across the pond, and was evidently intended to signal a tough-minded reset.
From Salon ● May 12, 2026
Although the title character creates plenty of speed bumps in the lives of the men and women in Gina Gionfriddo’s tough-minded dark comedy “Becky Shaw,” the terrain was rough to begin with.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
G DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland, 6-5, 215: Heralded as a tough-minded and fearless player, the stat-sheet stuffer from Woodbridge, Virginia, led his team to the state title last season.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2023
The show was not over—their favorite, the old bear, hadn’t appeared yet—but some even of the tough-minded, bloodthirsty Romans had had enough.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
