variants
also toughy
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
after numerous suspensions, the school toughies were finally expelled for gang activities on campus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 toughie
Other toughies are at the not-so-soft Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, the revenge trip to New England in Week 15 and the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Week 17.
—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
And special days call for special grids, such as this set of six toughies that were originally shelved but have remained in our hearts.
—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2025
Extra time may be spent looking for that toughie that was present just a few days ago.
—
Taylor Piephoff,
charlotteobserver,
15 Dec. 2017
Another cold-weather toughie is Alaska's red flat bark beetle, which, under lab conditions, can survive cooling down to minus 238 degrees Fahrenheit.
—
Liz Langley,
National Geographic,
10 Dec. 2016
The surprises come from Rachel McAdams, who holds her own as a wise-cracking toughie, and Peña, who defrosts from macho pride mode with low-key grace.
—
Hugh Hart,
WIRED,
29 Oct. 2008
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
And special days call for special grids, such as this set of six toughies that were originally shelved but have remained in our hearts.
—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2025
Extra time may be spent looking for that toughie that was present just a few days ago.
—
Taylor Piephoff,
charlotteobserver,
15 Dec. 2017
Another cold-weather toughie is Alaska's red flat bark beetle, which, under lab conditions, can survive cooling down to minus 238 degrees Fahrenheit.
—
Liz Langley,
National Geographic,
10 Dec. 2016
The surprises come from Rachel McAdams, who holds her own as a wise-cracking toughie, and Peña, who defrosts from macho pride mode with low-key grace.
—
Hugh Hart,
WIRED,
29 Oct. 2008
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughie
Noun
-
Ditto Hugh Jackman’s unerring performance — perhaps his finest dramatic work yet — as a savage, unfeeling thug and unrepentant murderer and thief.
-
The actions of these thugs, who should be imprisoned for a long while, is the cause of denying real Knicks fans the chance to watch the game communally.
Noun
-
And Susan Collins, as Democrats have seen time and time again, is a real tough out.
-
In that version, the character is played by Joe Don Baker, the great character actor known for playing toughs in films like Walking Tall (1973) and Fletch (1985).
Noun
-
The immigrant-threat frame offers a quicker villain and a simpler solution to persistent social problems such as violent crime.
-
The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way.
Noun
-
What begins as a chance to escape the routine of his everyday life quickly spirals into a dangerous gathering of powerful criminals, old enemies, and unresolved loyalties.
-
That creates the perfect opening for criminals.
Noun
-
The 16 reputed gangsters or aspiring gangsters charged in the indictment range in age from 19 to 24.
-
That’s not to say that there aren’t some similarities between the Gotham City gangster in The Penguin and Los Angeles private investigator of Sugar.
Noun
-
Toph has to integrate being a Beifong with being this rough, tough earthbender who is the blind bandit.
-
The tree is said to have sheltered Robin Hood, the legendary 13th-century bandit who stole from the rich and gave to the poor and took refuge in the forest when being pursued by the sheriff of Nottingham.
Noun
-
As a pirate assassin and post-apocalyptic warrior, Krem of the Yellow Hills connects with Aries.
-
The report’s key finding was that an odd, angry, 24-year-old assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, had acted alone, for reasons nobody could quite figure out.
Noun
-
Kara’s after Krem, too, after the space pirate poisons Krypto the Superdog and has the antidote to save him.
-
As a pirate assassin and post-apocalyptic warrior, Krem of the Yellow Hills connects with Aries.
Cite this Entry
“Toughie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughie. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
