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.

Today, the U.K. faces even tougher questions—and the politicians battling to succeed Starmer don’t appear to have the answers.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Waymo is rolling out a new driverless taxi to help the company expand into more cities and tackle tougher driving conditions, including snowy roads, the company announced Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

However, smaller companies still face a tougher fundamental backdrop, including falling earnings estimates, weaker profitability and heavier debt loads, Alex Sagal, investment-strategy analyst at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, wrote in a Wednesday note.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Those who are applying for family-based green cards, such as spouses of U.S. citizens, may have a tougher time, the lawyers said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

The Japanese had been tougher than anyone expected.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac