tough-minded

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tough-minded His dad was a very, very tough-minded person. Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 That second unit included Pollard, who was known for being physical and tough-minded during an era when physicality was more celebrated in the NBA, if not always during practice. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025 The tough-minded, rigid leadership style that worked during Welch’s era doesn’t fit the needs of modern leadership, especially for younger generations who value vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 Is the group as tough-minded without Thibodeau’s patented verve? Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 However, both are smart, tough-minded and experienced players who understand their responsibilities and will take care of business on an every-down basis. Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 At times, the Administration seemed to be testing how much destruction Americans would tolerate, if it was packaged as tough-minded business wisdom. Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough-minded
Adjective
  • Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
  • That father is Mahmood Mamdani, a political scientist known for his stringent and unsentimental view of African politics.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Hubspot — The stock slumped 12%, despite the customer platform reporting strong top and bottom-line figures for the third quarter.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Then, Walmart gets another bottom-line boost, as a large portion of those SNAP funds get turned around and spent at Walmart.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Over time, the unromantic Valentín relishes the chance to hear Molina recap a silly, big-hearted romantic plot of a musical his idol Ingrid Luna (Lopez) starred in.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Darcy goes running after Elizabeth in the rain…and then proposes to her in quite a clumsy and unromantic way?
    Marley Marius, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In a relationship characterized by levelheaded stability, competition between the United States and China would endure.
    Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Collins will play Louis, White Sun’s good-natured and levelheaded cousin.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Good, the Bad and the Painterly As Bouancheau fashioned a Puss that was more lyrical, like a character that stepped out of a fairy tale book and less hard-edged, all the other characters followed suit.
    Karen Idelson, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • There seemed to be a rational acceptance of the outcome.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Therefore, the present work supports the belief that rational materials design at both the macro and atomic levels can solve long-standing challenges, according to a press release.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At 48 percent off, the traveler-adored Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is an excellent, sensible gift that can function as both a personal item and an everyday sightseeing tote.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Understanding the absurdity of one trillion anything makes the $38 trillion US national debt that economists have been blathering on about for years look almost sensible.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Not even a meta ending that pushes that idea to its logical breaking point can sour you on it.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To be fair, public entities have been stretching public records trade secret exceptions to logical extremes long before college athletes started getting paid—and these carve-outs are often intended to be permissive.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough-minded. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

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