tough-minded
adjective
tough-mind·ed
ˈtəf-ˌmīn-dəd 
: realistic or unsentimental in temper or outlook
tough-minded survivors
tough-mindedness
noun
Examples of tough-minded in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
James is quite tough-minded about the limits of radical chic.
—
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Friday night announcement was criticized by some journalists as a way to score political points and penalize tough-minded news outlets.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Johnson is viewed as innovative, creative and somewhat tough-minded in his coaching style.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The Heat are always a tough-minded unit and it's reflected in their performance.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
This approach is not new; it could also be called tough-minded diplomacy.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
There’s a radical, tough-minded generosity here that punches right through the wall of our moment’s hypersensitivity around appropriation.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2024
For the British government, that requires tough-minded honesty about the United Kingdom, the balance of power, and the state of the world.
—David Lammy, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2024
Under tough-minded presidents, that has occasionally happened.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
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.
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
The Friday night announcement was criticized by some journalists as a way to score political points and penalize tough-minded news outlets.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Johnson is viewed as innovative, creative and somewhat tough-minded in his coaching style.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
The Heat are always a tough-minded unit and it's reflected in their performance.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
This approach is not new; it could also be called tough-minded diplomacy.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
There’s a radical, tough-minded generosity here that punches right through the wall of our moment’s hypersensitivity around appropriation.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2024
For the British government, that requires tough-minded honesty about the United Kingdom, the balance of power, and the state of the world.
—David Lammy, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2024
Under tough-minded presidents, that has occasionally happened.
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough-minded. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share