tough-minded

adjective

tough-mind·​ed ˈtəf-ˌmīn-dəd How to pronounce tough-minded (audio)
Synonyms of tough-mindednext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those are two tough-minded veterans. David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 June 2026 Lucas is a tough-minded old buzzard. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 June 2026 Jarred Vanderbilt is tough-minded, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026 Her tough-minded sister, Ena (Lisa Hagmeister), sees things with greater clarity. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 Kerr encourages players, coaches and others in the Warriors organization to be kind and tough-minded, compassionate and competitive, rigorous and creative, consistent and innovative. John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 Murphy, a gifted mechanic and a veteran of the Great War, immediately stands out to Clancy as a tough-minded, industrious guy. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2026 The number of ambiguous, tough-minded docs may be dwindling, but the tools to repair a broken world are growing. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Dec. 2025 His dad was a very, very tough-minded person. Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tough-minded was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough-minded. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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