tough 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtəf How to pronounce tough (audio)
Definition of toughnext
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam

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2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters

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3
as in harsh
difficult to endure tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long

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4
as in chewy
not easily chewed her steak was so tough that she suggested the waiter use it as a hockey puck

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5
as in sensitive
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling handled a tough situation with the aplomb and tact of a true diplomat

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6
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a tough supervisor who docked the pay of anyone who punched in late, no matter what the reason

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tough

2 of 2

noun

as in bully
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang didn't want her son hanging out with the neighborhood toughs

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How is the word tough different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of tough are stalwart, stout, strong, sturdy, and tenacious. While all these words mean "showing power to resist or to endure," tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

When can stalwart be used instead of tough?

The words stalwart and tough can be used in similar contexts, but stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

Where would stout be a reasonable alternative to tough?

The words stout and tough are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

When could strong be used to replace tough?

The meanings of strong and tough largely overlap; however, strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

When would sturdy be a good substitute for tough?

Although the words sturdy and tough have much in common, sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

When is tenacious a more appropriate choice than tough?

While in some cases nearly identical to tough, tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tough
Adjective
Amid Marshall’s tough reelection campaign, the senior senator from Kansas has been quiet. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 But addressing the problems that have brought students and workers to the streets for the last five weeks will be a tougher proposition. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
The Bookie & The Bruiser is set in 1959 New York City and features a pensive Jewish fellow named Rivner (James) and an oversized Italian-American tough named Boscolo (Vaughn). — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 May 2026 Cazale played the title character, an older man who becomes lost in Manhattan and is harassed by two young toughs, one of whom was portrayed by Pacino. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough
  1. difficult
  2. sturdy
  3. harsh
  4. leathery
  5. sensitive
  6. strict
  7. criminal
  8. challenging
Adjective
  • The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • The shoes balanced on a slender yet sturdy stiletto heel measuring around three inches.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result has been sturdy economic growth, even as lower-income and even middle-income households have continued to struggle under stubborn inflation and declining earnings.
    — Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • And now those still left in the battered city along Ukraine's southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms, with no agreement in sight for even a humanitarian evacuation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Despite low winds and little rain, harsh surf continues to wreak havoc along Southern California's coastal communities.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The original post also included an older video seemingly taken when Cardi first got the leathery brown Birkin.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Perched like seabirds on wobbly plastic stools, leathery and liver-spotted from hours in the sun, some smoked while others sipped packets of bandung or chrysanthemum tea.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of leathery
Adjective
  • Adolescence is an exquisitely sensitive time in the brain’s development.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The chipmaker’s relationships with customers are similarly interlaced and sensitive.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Anthropic wants Congress to set strict limits on when federal authorities can stop advanced AI models from reaching users.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • France, unlike the United States, places strict limits on campaign spending, but money still shapes the broader political ecosystem.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of strict
Noun
  • That same month, criminals nabbed a $4 million diamond necklace from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.
    — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, one musician at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music is challenging expectations about classical music and the harp.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of challenging

Phrases Containing tough

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touchy-feely
tough
toughed it out
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Cite this Entry

“Tough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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