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tough

tough

403 3.8
Emotionally strong and not easily moved by feelings
  • adjective
  • /tʌf/
translation icon : duro
  • She is a tough woman who never shows her emotions in public.
  • tough-minded
  • tough love
  • get tough

And that might sound quite tough, but it's tough love.

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Examples

  • And so my mom was really tough on us, really tough on us.

  • And she was, she was a tough woman, trust me.

  • Because I mean, it's it's a tough world we live in.

  • In our society, males are expected to be tough and able to handle problems.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Farming had always been tough, but the conditions on Angel made it close to impossible.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • She had a tough life.

  • I didn't know you could be so tough.

  • You don't look so tough.

  • In a tough negotiation, he remained calm and unyielding.

  • Many believe that to survive in that industry, you have to be tough and resilient.

Synonyms

steely
vstough
20 5.5

Being very determined and not showing fear

is resilient and unsentimental but may be less sharply unyielding
strong-willed
vstough
19 4.3

A person who decides to do something and does not change their mind

is about emotional indifference rather than sheer force of will
hard-nosed
vstough
12 7.2

A practical, tough person who is not moved by feelings

is emotionally resilient but can be less focused on practical judgment
tough as nails
vstough
  • Informal
10 7.1

Someone who can deal with hard things and stay calm

is emotionally resilient but less extreme and sometimes unsympathetic
tough-minded
vstough
4 6.1

A person who deals with problems in a realistic, determined way and is not easily moved by feelings

is about emotional resilience rather than factual realism in thinking
hard-bitten
vstough
4 8.2

Tough and not easily upset because of difficult past experiences

describes resilience as a present trait rather than formed by past suffering
thick-skinned
vstough
4 4.2

Can accept criticism without feeling hurt

covers wider emotional resilience beyond responses to criticism
hard-boiled
vstough
3 6.5

A person who is tough and does not show feelings or pity

is emotionally strong but not necessarily cynical or world weary
hardhearted
vstough
1 7.2

Not feeling or showing pity for other people

is emotionally strong without necessarily being cruel or unkind
hardened
vstough
5.6

Made emotionally tougher after repeated difficult experiences

expresses natural resilience without emphasizing a process of toughening
case-hardened
vstough
8.6

Being emotionally hard and not showing feelings because of bad experiences

is strong in character without implying that toughness grew from past events
tough-skinned
vstough
4.8

Does not get upset by criticism or rude remarks

is broader, resisting emotion generally rather than only criticism

Antonyms

235 1.0

Kind and not strong in action, sound, or touch

110 1.6

Showing care and kindness in a gentle way

1 4.4

A person who is easily affected by others' feelings

Idioms

tough as nails
  • Informal
10 7.1

Someone who can deal with hard things and stay calm

tough luck
  • Informal
3 4.9

A short comment that says whether you feel sorry for someone's bad luck

tough titty
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A short rude reply showing you do not care about someone's problem

1 8.2

Pretending to be strong to impress others or hide fear

Compounds

tough guy
  • Informal
143 4.2

A man who acts strong to scare people

31 4.5

A strict way of caring that helps someone improve

29 3.4

A difficult task that needs a lot of effort

tough break
  • Informal
19 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

tough call
  • Informal
19 5.3

A difficult choice when two options are equally hard

6 3.0

A match that is very hard to win

tough going
  • Informal
4 5.3

A situation or task that is hard to do

tough customer
  • Informal
3 5.3

A person who is hard to deal with or persuade when making a deal

A hard set of exercises that makes you very tired

A difficult time that is hard to get through

Has a hard outer skin that does not break easily

How Resilient

hardhearted
1 7.2
tough
403 3.8
stoic
1 6.3
reserved
3.7
sensitive
1 4.4

Surface Forms

tough positive
tougher comparative
toughest superlative

Etymology

Tough comes from an old English word toh meaning 'strong' or 'hard'. So a tough person is one who is 'hard' inside — not easily moved by feelings and able to deal with difficult things.