Definition of tough love
: love or affectionate concern expressed in a stern or unsentimental manner (as through discipline) especially to promote responsible behavior
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Russell, in character as Elizabeth Jennings, a KGB agent living undercover in the United States in the waning days of the Cold War, was dispensing some tough love to her daughter, Paige (Taylor) a college student sympathetic to the Soviet cause.
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And while Nairn, who lives with Bridges in East Lansing and rooms with him on the road, offers the kind of support a teammate and peer might, Izzo is trying to offer the tough love of a coach.
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On a bad day, however, Saturn can be harsh and unemotional, forcing us to learn through tough love and difficult challenges.
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Carr might not have gotten enough tough love recently.
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None of it would be possible, Butler said, if not for a phone call and some tough love.
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The Daily Star's Ryan Finley writes about ex-Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, and says there is a difference between tough love and bullying.
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Roseanne Barr, as well as pretty much everyone else from her seminal sitcom, returns for a new generation of middle-American tough love.
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Charles, adrift, is in need of love; Philip, denied that himself, has only tough love to offer.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tough love.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of tough love
1968
TOUGH LOVE Defined for English Language Learners
tough love
Definition of tough love for English Language Learners
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: love or concern that is expressed in a strict way especially to make someone behave responsibly
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