tough-minded
adjective
tough-mind·ed
ˈtəf-ˌmīn-dəd 
: realistic or unsentimental in temper or outlook
tough-minded survivors
tough-mindedness
noun
Examples of tough-minded in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Everyone in the studio nods along to Paco’s tough-minded flexes and mafioso folktales.
—
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
There are no Cooper Flagg’s on St. John’s, but there are all these tough-minded and talented players so much fun to watch, RJ Luis Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, who powered through the Big East Tournament with a shoulder injury.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Incoming players must fit his culture, be tough-minded and play with maximum effort and a fierce play demeanor.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
James is quite tough-minded about the limits of radical chic.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Friday night announcement was criticized by some journalists as a way to score political points and penalize tough-minded news outlets.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Johnson is viewed as innovative, creative and somewhat tough-minded in his coaching style.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The Heat are always a tough-minded unit and it's reflected in their performance.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
This approach is not new; it could also be called tough-minded diplomacy.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
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Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
There are no Cooper Flagg’s on St. John’s, but there are all these tough-minded and talented players so much fun to watch, RJ Luis Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, who powered through the Big East Tournament with a shoulder injury.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Incoming players must fit his culture, be tough-minded and play with maximum effort and a fierce play demeanor.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
James is quite tough-minded about the limits of radical chic.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Friday night announcement was criticized by some journalists as a way to score political points and penalize tough-minded news outlets.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Johnson is viewed as innovative, creative and somewhat tough-minded in his coaching style.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The Heat are always a tough-minded unit and it's reflected in their performance.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
This approach is not new; it could also be called tough-minded diplomacy.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough-minded. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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