How to Use be tough on in a Sentence
be tough on
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But for side sleepers, the lack of contour can be tough on the shoulder.
—Talene Appleton, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2023
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And the pressure to go faster can be tough on students at a time when more than one in five say that their mental health is poor.
—Jon Marcus, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
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The Black Panther actress may be tough on screen, but her birthday falls on the most romantic day of the year.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023
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Changing the name would understandably be tough on the dog and for herself.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 18 Jan. 2025
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Plus, it is designed to be tough on dirt and stains while being gentle on fabrics.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2023
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But getting across the Atlantic Ocean can often be tough on the pursestrings.
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Jan. 2023
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But getting across the Atlantic Ocean can often be tough on the pursestrings.
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Jan. 2023
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Ezekiel Elliott is playing through a knee injury at the moment and this quick turnaround is going to be tough on the team.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 23 Nov. 2021
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Afer three slugging seasons in Korea, Darin Ruf could prove to be tough on lefty pitchers.
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 25 June 2020
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By the time his work day has ended, Chuck wants to have some quiet time, but Leanne says this can be tough on her now that the couple are empty nesters.
—Emma Kershaw, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025
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In general, being a pastor can be tough on the preacher’s kids.
—al, 17 June 2021
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Still, Gordon said conditions will be tough on the roads between 3 p.m. and midnight.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 3 Feb. 2022
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Daily activities can be tough on nail health, and the removal process of gels and acrylics can wreak havoc on nail health.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 23 July 2024
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That’s despite a fall in crime rates and is driven in part by the fact that longer sentences are being handed out amid pressure to be tough on crime.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
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To make the small lineups that fit Indiana’s personnel work, players like Galloway will need to be tough on the glass.
—Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Nov. 2020
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Philadelphians can be tough on their hometown, griping about the traffic, the crime, the long-suffering sports teams.
—Ingrid K. Williams, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2023
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That will be tough on this loaded offense, but he’s developed into a bona fide red zone threat.
—cleveland, 14 Aug. 2021
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Covering big-league baseball was their launch pad and proving ground in a business that can still be tough on women.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
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Even running on plane can be tough on gear with constant bouncing and vibration.
—Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2023
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She’s also viewed as a regulator who will be tough on Wall Street excess.
—Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 24 Dec. 2020
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And even though the Trump administration may be tough on trade, its deregulatory view of the banks hasn’t changed.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025
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Organizing the defense could be tough on the fly, but this is more of an acquisition for the future anyway.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
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This product is designed to be tough on stains and gentle on fabric, ensuring that your clothes come out looking clean and as good as new.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
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This product is designed to be tough on stains and gentle on fabric, ensuring that your clothes come out looking clean and as good as new.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
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So that could be tough on players dealing with that at the beginning of the season.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
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Video games can be tough on our hardware.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
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Worrying too much about making parenting mistakes can also be tough on your mental health.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
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The summer heat can be tough on anyone’s body and mind — but the stakes are higher for seniors.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2025
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As travelers know, the journey can be tough on both your psyche and your luggage.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
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New coach Mike Vrabel will want to be tough on both sides of the line.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be tough on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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