Synonyms for tough
- adjective
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Harsh — strict, not lenient
harsh, severe, hardened, strict, brutal, violent, leathery, thick-skinned, hard-boiled, callous, cold, hard-bitten, grim, rigorous, dour, stern, stony, austere, unsympathetic, icy
2. Tenacious — of a person, stubborn or persistent; capable of stubbornness or persistence
tenacious, stubborn, hard nose, unyielding, hard-headed, obdurate, hard-hearted, inflexible, uncompromising, resolute, steady, obstinate, unbending, persistent, steadfast, intractable, adamant, stalwart, refractory, staunch, stanch US, bull headed, chronic
3. Strong — of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy
strong, sturdy, rigid, stiff, stout, solid, firm, robust, fibrous, dense, resistant, sinewy, stringy, concrete, cohesive
4. Hard — of a question, difficult or demanding
difficult, arduous, rough, challenging, rocky, sticky informal, hard slang
Other
hardy, rugged, knotty, complex, vigorous, problematic, chewy, baffling, unsentimental, elusive, unruly, inclement
Noun
Other
street fighter, hard case slang
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.
The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.
- adj. 2
Of a person, stubborn or persistent; capable of stubbornness or persistence.
He had a reputation as a tough negotiator.
- adj. 3
Of a question, difficult or demanding.
- n. 1
A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.
They were doing fine until they encountered a bunch of toughs from the opposition.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- toughs → toughies, bullies, hoodlums, rowdies…
Example sentences
- strict Algeria has to relax its strict economic policies.
- brutal The city was ruined by the brutal force of nature.
- hardened The cement hardened and restricted Hulk’s movements.
- leathery The meat served up was tough and leathery.
- stubborn I'm not stubborn; i'm just always right, thats it.
- tenacious Metaphors are much more tenacious than facts.
By length
- 3 letters
- icy2
- 4 letters
- hard1, cold1, firm1, punk1, grim1, thug1, dour2
- 5 letters
- solid2, rough1, rocky2, harsh1, dense1, stern1, stiff1, hardy2, bully2, rigid2, stout1, stony2, rowdy2, chewy2
- 6 letters
- strong1, severe2, steady2, strict1, brutal2, robust2, sticky2, rugged2, sturdy2, unruly3, knotty2, sinewy3, stanch1
- 7 letters
- complex2, violent3, chronic2, elusive3, adamant3, staunch1, arduous3, callous2, austere2, fibrous2, stringy2, ruffian, hoodlum2, toughie2
- 8 letters
- concrete2, stubborn2, rigorous3, hardened2, vigorous3, cohesive3, resolute3, baffling3, stalwart2, hooligan3, leathery3, obdurate3, ruffneck
- 9 letters
- difficult3, resistant3, steadfast2, tenacious3, inclement3, obstinate3, unbending3, roughneck2
- 10 letters
- persistent3, inflexible4, refractory4, unyielding3
- 11 letters
- challenging3, problematic4, intractable4
- 13 letters
- unsympathetic5, unsentimental5
- 14 letters
- uncompromising5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (icy2 = 2 syllables).