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tough

Definition for tough

adjective as in sturdy, strong

Strongest matches

hard, healthy, resilient, solid, stiff, tenacious, tight, vigorous

Strong matches

firm, fit, hardy, stalwart, stout

Weak matches

brawny, cohesive, conditioned, dense, durable, fibrous, flinty, hard as nails, hard-bitten, hardened, indigestible, inflexible, leathery, lusty, mighty, molded, resistant, rigid, robust, rugged, seasoned, sinewy, steeled, strapping, tough as nails, unbreakable, unyielding, withstanding

adjective as in obstinate, rough

Strongest matches

desperate, fierce, hard, hard-nosed, harsh, narrow, resolute, severe, stern, stiff, strict, terrible

Strong matches

adamant, firm, refractory, savage

Weak matches

arbitrary, callous, confirmed, cruel, drastic, exacting, ferocious, fixed, hard-bitten, hard-boiled, hard-line, hard-shelled, headstrong, immutable, inflexible, intractable, merciless, obdurate, pugnacious, ruffianly, ruthless, stubborn, taut, unalterable, unbending, uncompromising, uncontrollable, unforgiving, unmanageable, unyielding, vicious, violent

adjective as in difficult, laborious

Strongest matches

arduous, demanding, hard, onerous, severe, stiff, strenuous, troublesome

Strong matches

handful, heavy, mean, uphill

Weak matches

backbreaking, baffling, burdensome, effortful, exacting, exhausting, exigent, grievous, hairy, intractable, intricate, irksome, knotty, labored, no piece of cake, oppressive, perplexing, puzzling, resisting, taxing, thorny, toilsome, trying, unyielding, weighty, wicked

noun as in person who is rowdy, mean

Strongest matches

hooligan, rough, thug

Strong matches

bruiser, brute, bully, criminal, gangster, goon, hood, hoodlum, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, villain

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ms McCormill said there needed to be a joined up approach by the government and other bodies to stop the attacks, including introducing tougher sentencing.

Read more on BBC

Denver’s defense has quietly become one of the league’s toughest, and Bo Nix is doing enough when he can limit the turnovers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now she can fling armored vehicles, leap atop large buildings and bend the toughest of minds with a minimal nosebleed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Look at Bayern Munich this season, they have been the best team in Europe. This was probably the toughest game tactically we have played this season. The way they work it is so, so good."

Read more on BBC

This defeat leaves them a point off the top eight, but with tough matches against Inter Milan and away to Marseille to come.

Read more on BBC

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From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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