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¹tough

adjective \ˈtəf\

: very difficult to do or deal with

: physically and emotionally strong : able to do hard work, to deal with harsh conditions, etc.

: physically strong and violent

Full Definition of TOUGH

a : strong or firm in texture but flexible and not brittle

b : not easily chewed <tough meat>

: glutinous, sticky

: characterized by severity or uncompromising determination <tough laws> <tough discipline>

: capable of enduring strain, hardship, or severe labor <tough soldiers>

: very hard to influence : stubborn <a tough negotiator>

: difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with <a tough question> <tough luck>

: stubbornly fought <a tough contest>

: unruly, rowdyish <a tough gang>

: marked by absence of softness or sentimentality <a tough critic>

— tough·ly adverb

— tough·ness noun

See tough defined for English-language learners

See tough defined for kids

Examples of TOUGH

I have a tough constitution, and my profession taught me how to compete against long odds and big obstacles. —Lance Armstrong, It's Not About The Bike, (2000) 2001
… Pelletreau had firsthand experience in dealing with Israelis as well as with Arabs and had a reputation for being bold, analytical, and tough as nails. —Robert D. Kaplan, The Arabists, 1993
He had on the other hand to preserve his own reputation as a tough D.A. who dealt handily with the criminal classes. —E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, (1974) 1975
… this wiry, tough, frenetic Algerian with the beneficent smile, who could vault over the bar and stiff-arm a drunk out into the night in less time than it takes to say Edgar Poe, and return, bland as butter, to take up where he left off … —William Styron, “The Paris Review,” August 1953, in William Styron, This Quiet Dust And Other Writings, (1953) 1982
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Origin of TOUGH

Middle English, from Old English tōh; akin to Old High German zāhi tough

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TOUGH

Synonyms: chewy, leathery

Antonyms: tender

Synonym Discussion of TOUGH

strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources <strong arms> <the defense has a strong case>. stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way <stout hiking boots>. sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction <a sturdy table> <people of sturdy independence>. stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability <stalwart environmentalists>. tough implies great firmness and resiliency <a tough political opponent>. tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together <tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life>.

Rhymes with TOUGH

bluff, buff, chough, chuff, cuff, duff, fluff, gruff, guff, huff, luff, muff, puff, rough, ruff, scruff, scuff, slough, snuff, sough, stuff, tuff

²tough

adverb \ˈtəf\

: in a way that shows that you are strong or tough

Full Definition of TOUGH

: in a tough manner (see ¹tough) <talking tough>

See tough defined for English-language learners

Origin of TOUGH

(see ¹tough)

First Known Use: 14th century

³tough

noun \ˈtəf\

: a tough and violent person

Full Definition of TOUGH

: a tough and violent person : rowdy

See tough defined for English-language learners

Examples of TOUGH

One night, after antagonizing a gang of older toughs, he had his face smashed in with a hockey stick. —John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
They weren't strong enough to fight Sankoh and his hopped-up young toughs, who number in the thousands. —Tom Masland, et al., Newsweek, 15 May 2000
The subways provided fine service, except that lately there had been a problem. Packs of young toughs had taken to roaming the cars. —Tom Wolf, Harper's, November 1989
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Origin of TOUGH

(see ¹tough)

First Known Use: 1801

Related to TOUGH

Synonyms: bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, gorilla, hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, hoodlum, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]

⁴tough

transitive verb \ˈtəf\

Definition of TOUGH

: to bear unflinchingly : endure —usually used with out especially in the phrase tough it out

Examples of TOUGH

Summer in New York is coasting the dairy aisle at Safeway. … It's finding the spot in a subway car where the vent blows strongest and staying there past your stop, toughing it out when the “excuse me, ladies and gentlemen” hard-luck stories blow through. —Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 30 July 1991
… they were toughing it out with the help of the greatest ally a macho young cop ever had, booze. —Joseph Wambaugh, Lines and Shadows, 1984
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