tough JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/tʌf/ · tough
noun
- A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully. The neighborhood was quiet until a group of toughs tried to extort the shop owners.
verb
- To endure or withstand hardship. She had to tough through months of grueling training before the marathon.
- To make something stronger or more resilient. The coach toughened the players by putting them through intense drills.
adjective
- Strong and resilient; sturdy. The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.
- (of food) Difficult to cut or chew. To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours.
- Rugged or physically hardy; able to survive harsh conditions. Only a tough species will survive in the desert.
interjection
- Used to indicate lack of sympathy or to dismiss a complaint. If you don't like it, tough!
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? During World War II, "tough" was popularized in American slang to describe soldiers who could endure extreme conditions, cementing its modern sense of resilience.