tougher

ADJECTIVE

sturdy, strong

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hard healthy resilient solid stiff tenacious tight vigorous

STRONG

firm fit hardy stalwart stout

WEAK

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

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy flexible loose pliable pliant slack soft weak yielding

WEAK

controllable delicate facile fragile gentle kind nice tender unstable vulnerable wobbly

ADJECTIVE

obstinate, rough

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

adamant firm refractory savage

WEAK

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

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amenable calm easy easy-going facile flexible gentle kind lenient mild nice peaceful pliable pliant soft tolerant uncertain yielding

STRONG

supple

WEAK

controllable delicate fragile tender unstable vulnerable weak wobbly

ADJECTIVE

difficult, laborious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arduous demanding hard onerous severe stiff strenuous troublesome

STRONG

handful heavy mean uphill

WEAK

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

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm easy facile flexible mild nice pliable pliant soft trivial

WEAK

controllable delicate fragile gentle kind tender unstable vulnerable weak wobbly

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.

See Examples For:

tougher

The government publication, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, describes Burnham as "a consistent critic of Russia, who constantly calls for the West to adopt a tougher stance on Russia".

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

But it also suggests that viewers are mature enough to absorb the tougher truths omitted from Wilder’s original vision, as well as the roles of others who were minimized, like Sims’ good doctor.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

Our ancestors had larger jaws, suited to tougher diets that required heavy chewing.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z-ers say their generation faces tougher economic circumstances than previous generations.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Like a stringy rooster I am tougher than I look, but not tough enough to fight all of them.

From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads