Definitions

tough it out

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hang tough v.
persist v.
survive v.

VERB

hang tough

Synonyms

WEAK

be patient with bear bear the brunt brave cope with face go through grin and bear it gut it out hang in hang in there keep up live out live through meet with never say die put up with ride out sit through stand stick in there stick it out stomach suffer swallow take take it weather withstand

VERB

persist

Synonyms

STRONGEST

carry on carry over continue endure go on linger persevere prevail pursue recur remain

STRONG

abide grind insist last obtain perseverate repeat strive

WEAK

be resolute be stubborn follow through follow up go all the way go the limit hold on keep up leave no stone unturned perdure see through stick it out stick to guns

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cease discontinue give up go halt leave stop

STRONG

forget

WEAK

quit

VERB

survive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bear endure exist get through handle keep last live recover remain ride out subsist suffer sustain weather withstand

STRONG

outlast outlive outwear persevere persist revive

WEAK

be extant be left carry on carry through come through cut it get on go all the way go the limit hold out keep afloat live down live on live out live through make a comeback make the cut pull out of it pull through remain alive see through stand up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

depart die discontinue neglect refuse reject

STRONG

give up leave quit stop

WEAK

cease

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.

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tough it out

At the event he gave sweeping, unsubstantiated advice on autism, such as insisting that pregnant women should "tough it out" and avoid Tylenol over an unproven link to autism -- statements slammed by scientists.

From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026

But he feels pressured to tough it out there for now, even though he’s unhappy, so that he can keep paying down his six figures’ worth of student debt.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 10, 2026

"Pregnancy is one of the hardest things a woman is ever going to do ... so to be told to tough it out is infuriating," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025

Simply put, the tens of millions of Americans with MSK conditions don't have to "tough it out."

From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2024

But now it's me who needs to grit my teeth and tough it out until morning.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

tough it out

Example Sentences

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