1
2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in harsh
difficult to endure
tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam
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5
as in sensitive
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
handled a tough situation with the aplomb and tact of a true diplomat
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a tough supervisor who docked the pay of anyone who punched in late, no matter what the reason
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
didn't want her son hanging out with the neighborhood toughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tough
Mona Andrews, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Jimmie Woods-Gray, a member of the city’s fire commission, said that cutting the Equity Bureau is a necessary step in a tough budget year.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tough
Adjective
Employees have a tough time trusting a leader whose actions do not follow their words.
—Mona Andrews, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Jimmie Woods-Gray, a member of the city’s fire commission, said that cutting the Equity Bureau is a necessary step in a tough budget year.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
By the numbers Gary Klein’s prediction The NFC West rival Rams and the Seahawks always play each other tough.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough
Adjective
-
Osteoporosis causes the bones to become incredibly brittle.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
If polyethylene and polypropylene aren’t completely separated during recycling, the resulting mix can be brittle and generally unusable for creating new products.—
Alex Jordan,
The Conversation,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Vietnamese refugees who got a warm welcome from America puzzle at family separations, harsh rhetoric In Vietnam, Lam had owned three companies.—
Anh Do,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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President Donald Trump has launched harsh immigration actions in his first 100 days in office—detaining more people for immigration violations, allowing arrests outside schools and courthouses, and sending more than 200 Venezuelan men to be imprisoned in El Salvador.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The task for Denver tonight will be that much more difficult if Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) is unavailable or limited.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If the plant is especially sensitive to sitting in water, raise it up by setting a small plank or block underneath.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2025
-
According to the air quality index, anything over 100 for pollutants and fine particulates in the air is considered unhealthy, especially for people who are sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants, including children and adults with pre-existing respiratory problems.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Portuguese manager built his success by adhering to a strict 3-4-3 system at Sporting Lisbon.—
Brett Koremenos,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Known for his Marian devotion—which encourages piety and seeks the intercession of the Virgin Mary—and strict doctrinal stances, he is viewed as a potential challenger to Parolin, especially in early voting rounds and has odds of 7/1.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Letterman may be the obvious precedent but Mulaney’s delivery is less snide than lightly panicked, as if some Netflix thugs have their hands on a switch off-camera, eager to cut to black.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
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The Depardieu shtick — his public persona as a crude, working-class thug — was on full display.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The leathery green leaves of wintergreen contrast well with its white flowers in summer, followed by bright red berries in fall.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Pour Femme spotlights a lilac accord, while leathery, woody Pour Homme features juniper oil and orange flower absolute.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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