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Meaning of tough in English
Pronunciation
/təf/
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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.
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.
violent and lawless
Examples
« the more ruffianly element »
« tough street gangs »
Synonyms
violent
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.
unfortunate or hard to bear
Examples
« had hard luck »
« a tough break »
Synonyms
bad
Noun
tough
Definitions
1.
someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
2.
an aggressive and violent young criminal
3.
a cruel and brutal fellow
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
2.
physically toughened
Examples
« the tough bottoms of his feet »
Synonyms
calloused
thickened
enured
inured
hardened
weather-beaten
Antonyms
tender
untoughened
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