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

Then came the explosion of makeover shows that disguised cruelty as tough love, and reality dating shows that continue to pit a parade of interchangeable women against one another for the affections of the same male stranger. —Maya Salam, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

April 30, 2025 Frances Frei, professor at Harvard Business School, says that trust, empathy—and even a bit of tough love—are all essential ingredients to strong leadership in today’s world. —Harvard Business Review, 30 Apr. 2025

The six-time All-Star was not good enough for his team, and Wade couldn't help but provide his former teammate with some tough love. —Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025

There’s some tough love in these tips, but this is a tough process in what’s looking to be toughening times. —Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tough love

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• of
• shove
• hereinabove