tough

tough - Dictionary definition and meaning for word tough

Definition
(noun) someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
Synonyms : street fighter
Definition
(noun) an aggressive and violent young criminal
Synonyms : goon , hood , hoodlum , punk , strong-armer , thug , toughie
Definition
(noun) a cruel and brutal fellow
Synonyms : bully , hooligan , roughneck , rowdy , ruffian , yob , yobbo , yobo
Definition
(adj) not given to gentleness or sentimentality
Example Sentence
  • a tough character
Definition
(adj) very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
Synonyms : rugged
Example Sentence
  • a rugged competitive examination
  • the rugged conditions of frontier life
  • the competition was tough
  • it's a tough life
  • it was a tough job
Definition
(adj) physically toughened
Synonyms : toughened
Example Sentence
  • the tough bottoms of his feet
Definition
(adj) substantially made or constructed
Synonyms : sturdy
Example Sentence
  • sturdy steel shelves
  • sturdy canvas
  • a tough all-weather fabric
  • some plastics are as tough as metal
Definition
(adj) violent and lawless
Synonyms : ruffianly
Example Sentence
  • the more ruffianly element
  • tough street gangs
Definition
(adj) feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')
Synonyms : bad
Example Sentence
  • my throat feels bad
  • she felt bad all over
  • he was feeling tough after a restless night
Definition
(adj) resistant to cutting or chewing Definition
(adj) unfortunate or hard to bear
Synonyms : hard
Example Sentence
  • had hard luck
  • a tough break
Definition
(adj) making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
Example Sentence
  • a baffling problem
  • I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
  • a problematic situation at home

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