tough

American  

[tuhf] / tʌf /

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.

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adverb

1. in a tough manner.

noun

1. a ruffian; rowdy.

idioms

1. hang tough, hang.

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

tough British  

/ 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

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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 )

tough More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing tough

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of tough

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

Example Sentences

And like I said, I know it’s probably tough to take in, but that’s what we got to see because everybody is not wearing capes.

From Los Angeles Times

Wyatt, 34, was also a strong medal contender coming into the Games but has struggled on the technical Cortina track and a podium-finish already seems like a tough ask.

From BBC

The outcome of the case brought in California may also affect separate cases brought by attorneys for dozens of US states seeking tougher restrictions on Meta platforms.

From BBC

However, the bank is clear-eyed that the volatility is tough to stomach, business visibility is limited and there remains a clear downside scenario should prescription trends fail to improve and trial results underwhelm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Speaking about the prime minister, Sir Jim said: "It's a tough job, and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track."

From BBC

Related Words

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