1
2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in harsh
difficult to endure
tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long
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4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam
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5
as in sensitive
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
handled a tough situation with the aplomb and tact of a true diplomat
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6
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a tough supervisor who docked the pay of anyone who punched in late, no matter what the reason
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
didn't want her son hanging out with the neighborhood toughs
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of tough
Anna Spiegel, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
Basketball: Louisville men's basketball head coach Pat Kelsey came into the program with a strong 3-point shooting philosophy, but that's been one of the toughest hurdle for the Cards to overcome so far this season.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 10 Dec. 2024
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See all Example Sentences for tough 
Adjective
The big picture: The opening blitz may be a positive abnormality over a tough year for D.C.'s hospitality industry.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
Basketball: Louisville men's basketball head coach Pat Kelsey came into the program with a strong 3-point shooting philosophy, but that's been one of the toughest hurdle for the Cards to overcome so far this season.
—Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
By the numbers Gary Klein’s prediction The NFC West rival Rams and the Seahawks always play each other tough.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Shots of Phoenix running from street toughs in his clown outfit are intercut with his social worker breaking up with him.
—Dan Brooks, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2019
See all Example Sentences for tough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough
Adjective
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If your hair is dry, brittle, or dull, use this to bring back that luster and bounce.Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
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For four weekends through Dec. 22, attendees can walk through the Square lined with vendors offering five golden rings (and permanent jewelry), Blitzen’s BBQ, Christmas tamales, or even bacon brittle if figgy pudding isn’t your thing.Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This sturdy ice scraper has a padded, ergonomic handle that makes for an easy grip with or without gloves.Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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Huawei says the main foldable display is built on top of a carbon fiber glass plate which helps reinforce the screen, and the hinge connecting the moving parts feel sturdy and reassuring.Ben Sin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The corps’ push for additional benefits coincided with a harsh realization for the British Army: For white men, service in the West Indies was viewed as a death sentence due to the high risk of disease.Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
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This is especially key as bitcoin has surged to $100,000 , meaning that the earliest holders with the lowest basis could be facing harsh taxes on sale.Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The day of his funeral was an incredibly difficult one for his grieving widow Barbara, their four adult children, including Kordisch Tucker, and his grandchildren.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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Weightiness in Its Black and White Cinematography Co-star Nicholas Hoult had his own experience dealing with these difficult scene partners and decided to make the best of it by having fun with some of his fellow players, including Bill Skarsgård, who plays the blood-thirsty creature Count Orlok.Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Amphibians, including frogs and salamanders, are more vulnerable, Urban found, perhaps because their habitats are more sensitive to environmental changes.Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
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Hot sauce: This won't make the final dish hot, but if anyone is sensitive, it can be skipped.Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One example of such concessions that China can make would be promising stricter oversight on fentanyl trades, Scissors added.Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
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Either way, stricter regulations likely won’t be in place to impact this winter season, and despite the unease expressed by locals, mass tourism to Rovaniemi is probably only going to grow in 2025 — as visitors want to experience the unique atmosphere up north, especially during the holiday season.CNN, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Long maintaining that the protesters are just thugs, Najmeh painfully removes the rounds from Sadaf’s bleeding wounds, her assumptions about the government she’s loyally obeyed falling away.Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
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The society of Iverson’s youth rendered him an unredeemable thug and jailed him for it as a minor.Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The earliest figures, naked and missing limbs, some suffering gouges or pocked with what look like the holes of beetle larvae, bring to mind eerie tales of automata or the leathery agonies of bog bodies.Peter Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023
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Making her first appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, the up-and-comer chose a leathery dress made of dark maroon panels that left a cutout pattern along the side.Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 Jan. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near tough
Cite this Entry
“Tough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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