First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1tough
adjective \ˈtəf\
: very difficult to do or deal with
: physically and emotionally strong : able to do hard work, to deal with harsh conditions, etc.
: physically strong and violent
Full Definition of TOUGH
1
a : strong or firm in texture but flexible and not brittle b : not easily chewed <tough meat>
3
: characterized by severity or uncompromising determination <tough laws> <tough discipline>
4
: capable of enduring strain, hardship, or severe labor <tough soldiers>
5
: very hard to influence : stubborn <a tough negotiator>
6
: difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with <a tough question> <tough luck>
7
: stubbornly fought <a tough contest>
9
: marked by absence of softness or sentimentality <a tough critic>
— tough·ly adverb
— tough·ness noun
See tough defined for English-language learners
See tough defined for kids
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Examples of TOUGH
- I have a tough constitution, and my profession taught me how to compete against long odds and big obstacles. —Lance Armstrong, It's Not About The Bike, (2000) 2001
- … Pelletreau had firsthand experience in dealing with Israelis as well as with Arabs and had a reputation for being bold, analytical, and tough as nails. —Robert D. Kaplan, The Arabists, 1993
- He had on the other hand to preserve his own reputation as a tough D.A. who dealt handily with the criminal classes. —E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, (1974) 1975
- … this wiry, tough, frenetic Algerian with the beneficent smile, who could vault over the bar and stiff-arm a drunk out into the night in less time than it takes to say Edgar Poe, and return, bland as butter, to take up where he left off … —William Styron, “The Paris Review,” August 1953, in William Styron, This Quiet Dust And Other Writings, (1953) 1982
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Origin of TOUGH
Middle English, from Old English tōh; akin to Old High German zāhi tough
Synonym Discussion of TOUGH
strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources <strong arms> <the defense has a strong case>. stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way <stout hiking boots>. sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction <a sturdy table> <people of sturdy independence>. stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability <stalwart environmentalists>. tough implies great firmness and resiliency <a tough political opponent>. tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together <tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life>.
2tough
adverb \ˈtəf\
: in a way that shows that you are strong or tough
Full Definition of TOUGH
: in a tough manner (see 1tough) <talking tough>
See tough defined for English-language learners
Origin of TOUGH
(see 1tough)
First Known Use: 14th century
3tough
noun \ˈtəf\
: a tough and violent person
Full Definition of TOUGH
: a tough and violent person : rowdy
See tough defined for English-language learners
Examples of TOUGH
- One night, after antagonizing a gang of older toughs, he had his face smashed in with a hockey stick. —John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
- They weren't strong enough to fight Sankoh and his hopped-up young toughs, who number in the thousands. —Tom Masland, et al., Newsweek, 15 May 2000
- The subways provided fine service, except that lately there had been a problem. Packs of young toughs had taken to roaming the cars. —Tom Wolf, Harper's, November 1989
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Origin of TOUGH
(see 1tough)
First Known Use: 1801
4tough
transitive verb \ˈtəf\
Definition of TOUGH
: to bear unflinchingly : endure —usually used with out especially in the phrase tough it out
Examples of TOUGH
- Summer in New York is coasting the dairy aisle at Safeway. … It's finding the spot in a subway car where the vent blows strongest and staying there past your stop, toughing it out when the “excuse me, ladies and gentlemen” hard-luck stories blow through. —Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 30 July 1991
- … they were toughing it out with the help of the greatest ally a macho young cop ever had, booze. —Joseph Wambaugh, Lines and Shadows, 1984
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Origin of TOUGH
(see 1tough)
First Known Use: 1830
TOUGH Defined for Kids
tough
adjective \ˈtəf\
tough·ertough·est
Definition of TOUGH for Kids
1
: strong or firm but flexible and not brittle <tough fibers> <tough leather>
2
: not easily chewed <tough meat>
3
: physically or emotionally strong enough to put up with strain or hardship
4
: very strict, firm, or determined <a tough coach> <tough rules>
5
: very difficult to do or deal with <We've had some tough times.> <The math test was tough.>
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