tough
∞
2.6
- adjective
- /tʌf/
- And when things get tough, this is what you should do.
- tough times
- tough choices
- tough questions
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Watch on YouTubeAnd we were in a very tough financial year.
- And we were in a very tough financial year.
- No, I think that it's it's tough because we're friends.
- Oh, it would be tough for the public.
- But it's, it's, it's, it's a tough problem to solve.
- And when things get tough, this is what you should do.
- It's really hard sport, like really tough sport, lot of blast.
- I mean, like world building is tough though, too to do.
- It's all, I mean, it's tougher when you don't have money.
- I mean like it's a very tough situation I feel.
- You said this is going to be a a tough one and it's deep.
- Like it could be a very tough, tough, tough time for people.
- This is this is tough there's a lot wrong here.
Examples
-
I'm having a very tough time at home.
-
It's gotten me through some tough times.
-
And we were in a very tough financial year.
-
You know, this was a tough last week for my wife.
-
I mean like it's a very tough situation I feel.
-
Like it could be a very tough, tough, tough time for people.
-
It's going to be really tough, so we'll try.
-
It's tough to find time with him.
-
My fellow Americans, I know times are tough and almost certainly about to get tougher.
Academic text (2011) -
Studying for the final exam proved to be a tough challenge for many students.
Synonyms
∞
1.1
Needing a lot of effort and often strict or severe
∞
1.6
Not easy to do or understand
631
3.0
Hard and severe, causing problems or danger
283
3.9
Difficult to do because it has hidden problems
274
4.4
Hard to do and needing a lot of effort
200
2.1
Hard to do or understand
137
5.6
Hard to deal with and often not clear
104
4.1
Needing a lot of time, effort, or attention
104
2.9
Very severe and demanding, making life or work difficult, for example very bad weather
34
5.1
Hard to deal with and making people feel tired or annoyed
32
4.9
Needing a lot of effort or energy
30
6.4
Hard to understand and causing confusion
29
7.7
Very difficult to do and needing a lot of effort over a long time
24
4.7
Needing a lot of effort and struggle to get something
13
7.0
Hard to understand or describe, like the meaning of a symbol
12
6.4
Difficult to understand
10
5.3
Very difficult and needing a lot of strength to keep going
7
5.3
A situation or task that is hard to do
4
8.1
Hard to understand or deal with
1
8.1
Difficult to solve or understand, often about problems
1
5.1
Fairly difficult and needing some skill or care to do
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
How Difficult
∞
1.4
114
7.0
∞
2.6
∞
1.6
274
4.4
55
3.2
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tough comes from an old English word toh meaning 'strong' or 'hard'. So when something is tough to do or understand, it is like a hard task that needs strength or effort.