• more Thesaurus
  • Definition
    • tough :not given to gentleness or sentimentality
      • a tough character

    • tough :very difficult; 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

    • tough :physically toughened
      • the tough bottoms of his feet

    • tough :substantially made or constructed
      • sturdy steel shelves|sturdy canvas|a tough all-weather fabric|some plastics are as tough as metal

    • tough :violent and lawless
      • the more ruffianly element|tough street gangs

    • tough :feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')
      • my throat feels bad|she felt bad all over|he was feeling tough after a restless night

    • tough :unfortunate or hard to bear
      • had hard luck|a tough break

    • tough :making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
      • a baffling problem|I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast|a problematic situation at home

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  • Derivative