tough

[ tuhf ]

adjective

, tough·er, tough·est.

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. hang tough informal.
   hang tough 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 )

Derived Forms

• ˈtoughish, adjective
• ˈtoughly, adverb

Other Words From

• toughly adverb
• toughness noun
• super·tough adjective
• un·tough adjective
• un·toughly adverb
• un·toughness noun

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, Slang. hang ( def 62 ).
2. tough it out, Informal. 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

Our last game we were coming off Lewis & Clark, and that was a tough game.

From Washington Post

This is a way for animals to break down tough plant material like grass.

From Science News For Students

He spent the entire ride explaining how he was tough on the gloves while he skied but rewaterproofed them as often as once a week during the season.

From Outside Online

If not, gathering about 14,000 signatures in 120 days will be very tough.

From Voice of San Diego

I learned some very tough lessons during some very tough times.

From Washington Post

His flesh is sagging a bit, but he is still trim and looks lean, sinewy and tough.

From The Daily Beast

“You ask me my motivation,” Marvin says, moving back into his tough guy persona again.

From The Daily Beast

After a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.

From The Daily Beast

Although tough environmental controls were put in place in 2000, enforcement has been haphazard.

From The Daily Beast

It was also an occasion for voluptuary displays of tough-mindedness.

From The Daily Beast

But this paper was a very tough, fibrous substance, and would resist quite a heavy blow as well as keep out the cold.

From Project Gutenberg

"Tough—but most of us have been there, one time or another," Goodell observed sympathetically; and with that the subject rested.

From Project Gutenberg

You know that I come of tough fiber—of that old Creole race of Pontelliers that dry up and finally blow away.

From Project Gutenberg

Another tough-looking man ran out of the building and jumped into the red car.

From Project Gutenberg

But it was tough on Clip to run into a relative and find him passing smoke-signals along for that prince of rascals, Dangerfield.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hooligan
• rough
• thug