toughness

noun

tough·​ness ˈtəf-nəs 

: the quality or state of being tough: such as

a

: the quality of being strong and not easily broken, torn, etc.

This combination of strength and ductility makes spider silk extremely tough, matching the toughness of state-of-the-art carbon fibers such as Kevlar.

—MIT Technology Review

also : the quality of being difficult to cut or chew

… the extreme toughness of the beef … , which rendered it quite unfit … for any human consumption.

—Charles Dickens

b

: physical or emotional strength that allows someone to endure strain or hardship

Henin-Hardenne's unshakable mental toughness—she says one of her great joys in life is staving off a break point in a tight match—makes her all the more formidable.

—L. Jon Wertheim

c

: the quality of being severe or uncompromising

the toughness of the new sentencing guidelines

his toughness as a negotiator

The Minnesota senator referenced the story during her campaign to showcase her toughness on crime.

—Summer Concepcion and Matt Shuham

Besides teaching us how to hit with pads [in football], [Sister] Paulinus instructed us in English, history, and the love of God, with a distinctive combination of toughness and good humor.

—Luke Timothy Johnson

d

: the quality of being difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with

the toughness of life in prison

the toughness of these decisions

After an appearance on British television, he is almost giddy at the toughness of the questions he faced.

—A. O. Scott

Just spritz on some Dawn Power Dissolver, wait 15 to 30 minutes depending on the toughness of the job, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.

—Cook's Illustrated

Examples of toughness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No matter the role, that toughness was always there, a desire to push against the artificiality of acting to get at something true and lived-in within his characters. —Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026

Going through physical therapy and rehabilitation will test your child’s toughness in every sense of the word. —Jonathan Carone, Parents, 16 Feb. 2026

Personality traits such as mental toughness, discipline, high pain tolerance and persistence may also lead to worsened eating disorder risk and behaviors in athletes. —Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026

Raised on a strict diet of toughness and discipline by his father, Dean arrives with undeniable talent – and an arrogance that quickly earns him enemies. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tough entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for toughness

• roughness