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1. Dictionary

   tough

   /təf/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a substance or object) strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough or careless handling: "tough backpacks for climbers" Similar durablestrongresilientresistantsturdyruggedfirmsolidsubstantialsoundstoutindestructibleunbreakablehardrigidstiffinflexibletoughenedhardwearinglong-lastingheavy-dutywell builtmade to lastOpposite softfragileflimsy
   • ▪ (of food, especially meat) difficult to cut or chew: "the hastily prepared steak was tough" Similar chewyleatherygristlystringyfibroussinewycartilaginousOpposite tender
   • 2. able to endure hardship or pain: "even at this ripe old age, he's still as tough as old boots" Similar resilientstronghardygrittydeterminedresolutedoggedstalwartruggedfitrobustpowerfulred-bloodeddoughtyhardenedcynicalhard-bitteninformal:hard(as) tough as old bootsOpposite weaksentimental
   • ▪ having the confidence and determination to cope in difficult situations: "she's both sensitive and tough"
   • ▪ involving considerable difficulty or hardship; requiring great determination or effort: "the training has been quite tough" Similar arduousonerousdifficultdemandinghardheavytaxingburdensometiringexhaustingpunishingwearyingfatiguinglaboriousstrenuousexactingtroublesomeformidablestressfulHerculeanrare:toilsomeexigentdifficulthardknottythornybafflingtrickyticklishpricklyperplexingpuzzlingmystifyingtroublesomebothersomeirksomeintractableOpposite easyeasy
   • ▪ used to express sympathy with someone in an unpleasant or difficult situation: "Poor kid. It's tough on her"
   • 3. demonstrating a strict and uncompromising attitude or approach: "police have been getting tough with drivers" Similar strictsternseverehardharshfirmhard-hittingadamantinflexibleunyieldingunbendinguncompromisingunsentimentalunsympatheticmercilessruthlesscalloushard-hearteduncaringcoldcoolstonystony-heartedflintyinformal:hard-nosedhard-boiledbadassOpposite softlight
   • ▪ used to express a lack of sympathy with someone: "I feel the way I feel, and if you don't like it, tough"
   • 4. (of a person) strong and prone to violence: "tough young teenagers" Similar roughrowdyunrulydisorderlyviolentwildlawlesslawbreakingcriminalviciouscalloushardened
   • ▪ (of an area) notorious for violence and crime: "a tough part of the town" Similar roughrowdyunrulydisorderlyviolentwildlawlesslawbreakingcriminalviciouscalloushardened

   noun

   • 1. a rough and violent person, especially a gangster or criminal: informal "young toughs sporting their state-of-the-art firearms"

   verb

   • 1. endure a period of hardship or difficulty. informal

   Word Origin Old Englishtōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch taai and German zäh.

   Derivatives

   • 1. toughish adjective
   • 2. toughly adverb

   Scrabble Points: 9

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishTOUGH | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   TOUGH definition: 1. strong; not easily broken or made weaker: 2. of a person, able to deal with difficult…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › toughTough Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › tough

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   The meaning of TOUGH is difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with. How to use tough in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Tough.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › toughTOUGH Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › tough

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   difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome: a tough problem. hard to bear or endure (often used ironically): tough luck. vigorous; severe; violent: a tough struggle. vicious; rough; rowdyish: a tough character; a tough neighborhood. practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › toughTough - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tough

   Tough means "strong, hard, unbending," and you can use it to describe many different things, like a tough exam, or a tough piece of beef jerky, or a tough day that you just want to be over. If a judge punishes criminals harshly to set examples, she's "tough on crime." We call people toughs if they seem likely to beat you up.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishTOUGH definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   11 meanings: 1. strong or resilient; durable 2. not tender 3. having a great capacity for endurance; hardy and fit 4. rough or.... Click for more definitions.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishtough adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of tough adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishTOUGH | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   TOUGH definition: 1. difficult: 2. Tough rules are severe: 3. not easily damaged, cut, etc: . Learn more.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › toughTough - definition of tough by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › tough

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   1. Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient: a tough all-weather fabric. 2. Hard to cut or chew: tough meat. 3. a. Physically hardy; rugged: tough mountaineers; a tough cop. b. Strong-minded; resolute: a tough negotiator. 4. a. Aggressive; pugnacious. b.

10. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › toughtough | meaning of tough in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › tough

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    tough meaning, definition, what is tough: difficult to do or deal with: Learn more.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitiontough adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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    strong enough to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations a tough breed of cattle He's not tough enough for a career in sales. She's a tough cookie/customer (= someone who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people).