tough-minded

Definition of tough-mindednext

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 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 And that could be an indication of the mindset that has gotten these Bruins to this point, a second-round game at 5:45 p.m. PDT Sunday against another tough-minded team, Connecticut. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 The professionalism of stars, their charismatic hold over audiences, is inseparable from such tough-minded reckonings. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough-minded
Adjective
  • The film’s empathetic interest in individual, often eccentric human lives gives it a warmth that overrides the underlying melancholy of the material, making for a pleasingly unsentimental crowdpleaser.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
  • That unsentimental spirit has always drawn me to Rivera’s work.
    Sammy Loren, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Damon Lindelof has done a lot of business with Warner Bros over the years, and on Monday the Watchmen creator put the business of the pending Paramount-Warner Bros Discover merger in stark bottom-line perspective.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Time will tell just how much the initiative accelerates Nvidia's bottom-line growth this year, next year, and beyond.
    , CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That seemingly unromantic shift towards feeling more like roommates than crushes isn’t inherently bad.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Small-Business Mindset Listening to both Cook and Drew, all of this sounds unromantic in the best possible way.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • So far, his balancing act is keeping him levelheaded and determined.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Stack tries to stay levelheaded during moments like that.
    Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
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
  • None of this has to be fully rational.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Does any of this make any sense in a rational world?
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Beets and garlic have similar care requirements, so keeping them together in the garden is not only easy but sensible.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
  • So using his two top 10 picks on a defensive standout and an offensive lineman feels like a sensible approach.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The logical stop would be Torrey Pines in San Diego, which checks the West Coast and great weather boxes, but the venue is also looking for a new sponsor, as its deal with Farmers Insurance ended in 2026.
    Mark Harris, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Delane gains steam LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, who visited the Dolphins last week and has repeatedly been linked to Miami at 11, would be a logical pick.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough-minded. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster