Meaning of tough in English

1. Pronunciation

   /təf/

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   UK accent

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1. Classifying Adjective

   tough

   Definitions

   1. very difficult

   Examples

   • « severely testing stamina or resolution »
   • « a rugged competitive examination »
   • « the rugged conditions of frontier life »
   • « the competition was tough »
   • « it's a tough life »
   • « it was a tough job »

   Synonyms

   • difficult
   • hard
2. 2. substantially made or constructed

   Examples

   • « sturdy steel shelves »
   • « sturdy canvas »
   • « a tough all-weather fabric »
   • « some plastics are as tough as metal »

   Synonyms

   • rugged
3. 3. violent and lawless

   Examples

   • « the more ruffianly element »
   • « tough street gangs »

   Synonyms

   • violent
4. 4. feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')

   Examples

   • « my throat feels bad »
   • « she felt bad all over »
   • « he was feeling tough after a restless night »

   Synonyms

   • uncomfortable
5. 5. unfortunate or hard to bear

   Examples

   • « had hard luck »
   • « a tough break »

   Synonyms

   • bad

6. Noun

   tough

   Definitions

   1. someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
7. 2. an aggressive and violent young criminal
8. 3. a cruel and brutal fellow

9. Qualitative Adjective

   tough

   Etymology

   Old English tōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch taai and German zäh

   Definitions

   1. not given to gentleness or sentimentality

   Examples

   • « a tough character »

   Synonyms

   • hard-bitten
   • hard-boiled
   • pugnacious
   • tough-minded
   • unsentimental

   Antonyms

   • tender
10. 2. physically toughened

    Examples

    • « the tough bottoms of his feet »

    Synonyms

    • calloused
    • thickened
    • enured
    • inured
    • hardened
    • weather-beaten

    Antonyms

    • tender
    • untoughened
11. 3. tough to cut or chew

    Synonyms

    • cartilaginous
    • gristly
    • rubbery
    • chewy
    • coriaceous
    • leathered
    • leatherlike
    • leathery
    • fibrous
    • sinewy
    • stringy
    • unchewable
    • hempen
    • fibrous

    Antonyms

    • tender

See also

• inedible