1
2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
this is a tough plant that easily withstands harsh winters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in harsh
difficult to endure
tough weather conditions on the top of the mountain all year long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even if you study for it, it's still a tough exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tough
Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2025
Proper handwashing is tough when the handwash sink doesn’t have any hot water.
—David J. Neal
august 1, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
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
Matters were made even tougher for Moore when veteran quarterback Derek Carr retired in May, leaving the Saints with a group of young quarterbacks to choose from to lead the offense.
—Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2025
Proper handwashing is tough when the handwash sink doesn’t have any hot water.
—David J. Neal
august 1, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
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
-
This synergy transforms dry, brittle hair into something visibly healthier and more luminous with each use.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Selenium: Excess selenium may cause symptoms like a metallic taste, hair loss, brittle nails, nausea, and nerve damage.—
Patricia Weiser,
Verywell Health,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.—
Alex Harris
July 25,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
-
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive scrubbers like steel wool, salt effectively tackles grime while remaining safe for both wood and plastic cutting board surfaces.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
-
As the moon moves through Sagittarius, a harsh reality disturbs your inner peace.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Some students may face family challenges that affect their ability to get to school, and some changes to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test, such as its move to online instead of paper form, could be difficult for students who only access computers at school, Maldonado said.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
Diseases that are difficult to manage without early intervention, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer, place a significant burden on health care budgets and patient quality of life.—
Kim Praitano,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Businesses cannot process sensitive data without obtaining consumer consent.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
The website Health in Her Hue, for example, connects Black women and women of color to culturally sensitive healthcare providers.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
San Francisco is set to crack down on homeless people living in RVs with its Board of Supervisors preparing to vote on strict new parking limits.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The 18th Street thugs then attacked a second victim with large wooden planks, causing lacerations that required sutures.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
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Plus, she wasn’t forced to live in a remote jungle compound surrounded by gun-toting thugs, because no one was coming after her.—
Sam Kelly,
Time,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The flowers, which are shaped like a snapping turtle’s head, are held on erect stems flanked with leathery green leaves.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
-
The leathery green leaves of wintergreen contrast well with its white flowers in summer, followed by bright red berries in fall.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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