tough love
noun
: love or affectionate concern expressed in a stern or unsentimental manner (as through discipline) especially to promote responsible behavior
Examples of tough love in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a layup from Jaquez and free throws from Rice extended the lead to double-digits before the break, UCLA regrouped, laying into one another with tough love.
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Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
It’s called motivation, and Cronin’s version of tough love – not dissimilar to the methods of UConn’s Dan Hurley – got his players’ attention.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Thank you to my musical theatre teachers for instilling this in me, and for the years of tough love.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
But that tough love turned into praise for Ware following Thursday’s home win against the Brooklyn Nets.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
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Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
It’s called motivation, and Cronin’s version of tough love – not dissimilar to the methods of UConn’s Dan Hurley – got his players’ attention.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Thank you to my musical theatre teachers for instilling this in me, and for the years of tough love.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
But that tough love turned into praise for Ware following Thursday’s home win against the Brooklyn Nets.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tough love
Cite this Entry
“Tough love.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough%20love. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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