tougher

adjsturdy, strong
adjobstinate, rough
adjdifficult, laborious

Synonyms for tougher

adj sturdy, strong

Antonyms for tougher

Word Origin & History

Old English toh "difficult to break or chew," from Proto-Germanic *tankhuz (cf. Middle Low German tege, Middle Dutch taey, Dutch taai, Old High German zach, German zäh). See rough for spelling change.

Figurative sense of "strenuous, difficult, hard to beat" is first recorded c.1200; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1610s. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, American English. Tough guy first recorded 1932. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit is from 1946.

Example Sentences for tougher

There is no tougher man or more resolute fighter in the Army.

I do,—but it is going to be a tougher struggle than any of us expected.

"It's a tougher problem than we ever attacked in Euclid," remarked the younger.

It is tougher than our glass, and chips to a fine razor edge.

“And we eat him too, though his steaks are tougher than cow meat,” laughed Fil.

We had not far to go, but I found it a tougher job than I expected.

But these Cheyennes and Sioux are a tougher breed, they tell me.

“Vernon was a stronger and tougher man than I am,” Lisle went on.

Our flesh is tougher and more solid than thine, yet 'tis not of iron.

Without Helen and Les agreeing to stay, it might have been tougher.