: the quality or state of being tough: such as
a
: the quality of being strong and not easily broken, torn, etc.
This combination of strength and ductility makes spider silk extremely tough, matching the toughness of state-of-the-art carbon fibers such as Kevlar.—
MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review
also
: the quality of being difficult to cut or chew
… the extreme toughness of the beef … , which rendered it quite unfit … for any human consumption. —Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
b
: physical or emotional strength that allows someone to endure strain or hardship
Henin-Hardenne's unshakable mental toughness—she says one of her great joys in life is staving off a break point in a tight match—makes her all the more formidable.—L. Jon Wertheim
L. Jon Wertheim
c
: the quality of being severe or uncompromising
the toughness of the new sentencing guidelines
his toughness as a negotiator
The Minnesota senator referenced the story during her campaign to showcase her toughness on crime.—Summer Concepcion and Matt Shuham
Summer Concepcion and Matt ShuhamBesides teaching us how to hit with pads [in football], [Sister] Paulinus instructed us in English, history, and the love of God, with a distinctive combination of toughness and good humor.—Luke Timothy Johnson
Luke Timothy Johnson
d
: the quality of being difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with
the toughness of life in prison
the toughness of these decisions
After an appearance on British television, he is almost giddy at the toughness of the questions he faced.—A. O. Scott
A. O. ScottJust spritz on some Dawn Power Dissolver, wait 15 to 30 minutes depending on the toughness of the job, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.—Cook's Illustrated
Cook's IllustratedExamples of toughness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There were two potential reasons for this: Joseph was kept on the bench in the third period for several games down the stretch in the regular season, and the Blues wanted to add some toughness to the lineup after Game 1.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
This affordable smartwatch brings titanium toughness, a sun‑bright display, and an easy Quick Button that keeps your workouts flowing.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Jackson’s attack came in a Facebook post accusing Nettles of a lack of toughness following an April 10 altercation between the two at a candidate forum in the Historic Southside neighborhood.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
The sport requires a combination of elegance and toughness as a team of eight girls wear long gowns, perfectly matching accessories and impeccable makeup while riding horses around an arena.
—Daniel Eduardo Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughness
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.
Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
This affordable smartwatch brings titanium toughness, a sun‑bright display, and an easy Quick Button that keeps your workouts flowing.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Jackson’s attack came in a Facebook post accusing Nettles of a lack of toughness following an April 10 altercation between the two at a candidate forum in the Historic Southside neighborhood.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
The sport requires a combination of elegance and toughness as a team of eight girls wear long gowns, perfectly matching accessories and impeccable makeup while riding horses around an arena.
—Daniel Eduardo Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughness
Cite this Entry
“Toughness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toughness. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share