1
2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in harsh
difficult to endure
tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam
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5
as in sensitive
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
handled a tough situation with the aplomb and tact of a true diplomat
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a tough supervisor who docked the pay of anyone who punched in late, no matter what the reason
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
didn't want her son hanging out with the neighborhood toughs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tough
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Three tornado strikes in one lifetime is tough for Drope to wrap her head around.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tough
Adjective
Bridgers shared that raising two children under two with very little help was tough.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Three tornado strikes in one lifetime is tough for Drope to wrap her head around.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
By the numbers Gary Klein’s prediction The NFC West rival Rams and the Seahawks always play each other tough.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough
Adjective
-
Carol is brittle and reserved, but Blanchett is its resilient heart.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The ivy on the wall behind the pool was brittle and charred, rubble littered the deck, and the water shone like a black mirror.—
Jeffrey Fleishman,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The exterior is made from a sturdy and durable polycarbonate material that won’t easily wear and tear, even after longhaul travel.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Parker Hall The Best Workout Headphones for Moving Around Constantly Rock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones.—
Brad Bourque,
WIRED,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Designed for hiking and other outdoor adventures, these water-resistant pants are made with UPF 50 protection from harsh sun rays along with several spacious, handy pockets.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
-
President Trump is threatening 20 years in prison for anyone who vandalizes a Tesla, specifically in a harsh El Salvador facility.—
Emily Forlini,
PCMAG,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination.—
Joel Shannon,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Age is also a risk factor — older adults may already have issues with sleep due to existing health conditions, medications and chronic pain, and so may be especially sensitive to additional stress.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN,
19 Mar. 2025
-
However, how much caffeine is tolerable can vary from person to person, and some people may be more sensitive to caffeine than others.—
Emily Brown, MPH,
Verywell Health,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The reporting requirements for school officials who suspect abuse have become stricter in the last 20 years, Pernerewski notes.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
-
For instance, while Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert may try to adhere to a strict framing, Mulaney prefers a more meandering format between himself and announcer Richard Kind.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Jewish people in the U.S. have adopted a position of ‘support Netanyahu and his thugs irrespective of the political cost’ approach.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The thug in the seat next to him had 14 prior arrests and went by the name of killer.—
NPR,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The earliest figures, naked and missing limbs, some suffering gouges or pocked with what look like the holes of beetle larvae, bring to mind eerie tales of automata or the leathery agonies of bog bodies.—
Peter Ross,
Smithsonian Magazine,
5 Apr. 2023
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Making her first appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, the up-and-comer chose a leathery dress made of dark maroon panels that left a cutout pattern along the side.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
25 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Tough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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