TOUGH-MINDED Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

tough-minded

adjective

Definition of tough-minded

as in unsentimental

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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 Her tough-minded sister, Ena (Lisa Hagmeister), sees things with greater clarity. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 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 See All Example Sentences for tough-minded

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough-minded

Adjective

The affect of these books—brisk, unsentimental, exacting—serves their diagnosis.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
As executed, the 2019 show is an emotional yet refreshingly unsentimental black comedy that snickers in the face of empowerment buzzwords like, well, healing journey.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsentimental

Adjective

Gorgeous cinematography and a very unromantic portrayal of the grueling life of a secret agent make this a solid watch.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
This idea was supposed to be the kind of thing that could convince even the most unromantic skeptics that space exploration was not only spiritually fulfilling, but economically advantageous.

— Elena Saavedra Buckley, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of unromantic

Adjective

The group consists of levelheaded leader Blossom, sweet-natured Bubbles, and spunky Buttercup.

— Oliver Gettell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026
For much of a six-year Tigers tenure filled with wild ups and downs, Hinch has mostly carried a consistent, levelheaded demeanor.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 May 2026

Definition of levelheaded

Adjective

Gorbachev, still consolidating power, was taking a risk by bucking anti-American hawks back in Moscow and standing with Reagan to join him in officially ruling out nuclear war as a rational instrument of policy.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Three functions, each making the rational local decision, and together producing an outcome that would not have been chosen for the enterprise as a whole.

— Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rational

Adjective

The conversation in Springfield about sensible housing reforms shouldn’t end, but given there’s no time to lose, complementary ideas can help bridge the gap between now and whenever Illinois gets its act together.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Governments and school districts also have a role to play by adopting sensible policies and regulations.

— Larry Magid, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sensible

Adjective

When there are multiple logical possibilities for what the next word should be, the model typically selects one of those words by chance, based on their relative frequencies in the data.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
For five of the Buss siblings, selling the remaining stake can be viewed as the logical conclusion of a process that began when the family surrendered control of the Lakers last year.

— Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of logical

Browse Nearby Words

toughly

tough-minded

toughness

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Style

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough-minded. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tough-minded

adjective

Example Sentences

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