tough cookie
noun
: a person who is physically and emotionally strong
Don't worry about her—she's a tough cookie.
Examples of tough cookie in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Or will Houston again have to turn to the serviceable floor of Holiday, who has clear limitations but is a good shooter himself and a tough cookie on defense, and leave Sheppard at the end of the bench for another year?
—
John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The Hike is a tough cookie too, having been torture tested for water and dust resistance, vibration and shock, extreme temperatures, humidity, altitude and more.
—New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2025
Purdue may be a tough cookie to crack after allowing just 17 points itself so far this term, all of which came in last week's 34-17 win over Southern Illinois.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
Renovating well is a combination of being a great improviser and a tough cookie—yet another reason why having a great mood board up front helps.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Coach Ali is 36 now, having grown up into a tough cookie who cries a lot.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
Denise Richards is one tough cookie, and she's got the battle scars to prove it.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
And that’s coming from Montez, who was a darn tough cookie himself.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 4 Sep. 2024
If your infant is one tough cookie, consider these nickname options that have a bit of an edge to them.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 13 May 2024
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John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The Hike is a tough cookie too, having been torture tested for water and dust resistance, vibration and shock, extreme temperatures, humidity, altitude and more.
—New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2025
Purdue may be a tough cookie to crack after allowing just 17 points itself so far this term, all of which came in last week's 34-17 win over Southern Illinois.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
Renovating well is a combination of being a great improviser and a tough cookie—yet another reason why having a great mood board up front helps.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Coach Ali is 36 now, having grown up into a tough cookie who cries a lot.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025
Denise Richards is one tough cookie, and she's got the battle scars to prove it.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
And that’s coming from Montez, who was a darn tough cookie himself.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 4 Sep. 2024
If your infant is one tough cookie, consider these nickname options that have a bit of an edge to them.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 13 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tough cookie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough%20cookie. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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