tough love
noun
: love or affectionate concern expressed in a stern or unsentimental manner (as through discipline) especially to promote responsible behavior
Examples of tough love in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This was why Ron Washington was hired as the manager, the idea being that Wash’s tough love – and blunt honesty where necessary – would help keep the process moving.
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Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 22 June 2024
Another guest was Meera Syal, who plays Sister Squire, a punk rocker from an earlier generation to Lady Parts and who dishes some tough love to Saira.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 June 2024
But there are elements of a shared culture instilled in both from a young age: A fierce competitive streak, the value of tough love, blue-collar work ethic and a diehard passion for your sports teams.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2024
This guy has only been in Carl’s family for a few years but is single-handedly saving his life with tough love.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tough love 
Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 22 June 2024
Another guest was Meera Syal, who plays Sister Squire, a punk rocker from an earlier generation to Lady Parts and who dishes some tough love to Saira.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 June 2024
But there are elements of a shared culture instilled in both from a young age: A fierce competitive streak, the value of tough love, blue-collar work ethic and a diehard passion for your sports teams.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2024
This guy has only been in Carl’s family for a few years but is single-handedly saving his life with tough love.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tough love
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tough love.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Tough love.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough%20love. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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