tough
tough /ˈtʌf/
adjective
-
(
)
Not given to gentleness or sentimentality
(
tough
)
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
A tough character
a tough character
-
(
)
Very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
(
rugged
, tough
)
very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
A rugged competitive examination
a rugged competitive examination
The rugged conditions of frontier life
the rugged conditions of frontier life
The competition was tough
the competition was tough
It's a tough life
it's a tough life
It was a tough job
it was a tough job
-
(
)
Substantially made or constructed
(
sturdy
, tough
)
substantially made or constructed
Sturdy steel shelves
sturdy steel shelves
Sturdy canvas
sturdy canvas
A tough all-weather fabric
a tough all-weather fabric
Some plastics are as tough as metal
some plastics are as tough as metal
-
(
)
Physically toughened
(
toughened
, tough
)
physically toughened
The tough bottoms of his feet
the tough bottoms of his feet
-
(
)
Feeling physical discomfort or pain ('tough' is occasionally used colloquially for 'bad')
(
tough
, bad
)
feeling physical discomfort or pain ('tough' is occasionally used colloquially for 'bad')
My throat feels bad
my throat feels bad
She felt bad all over
she felt bad all over
He was feeling tough after a restless night
he was feeling tough after a restless night
-
(
)
Violent and lawless
(
ruffianly
, tough
)
violent and lawless
The more ruffianly element
the more ruffianly element
Tough street gangs
tough street gangs
-
Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend, solve or believe
(
elusive
, problematic
, problematical
, tough
, baffling
, knotty
)
making great mental demands; hard to comprehend, solve or believe
A baffling problem
a baffling problem
I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
A problematic situation at home
a problematic situation at home
-
Unfortunate or hard to bear
(
hard
, tough
)
unfortunate or hard to bear
Had hard luck
had hard luck
A tough break
a tough break
-
Resistant to cutting or chewing
(
tough
)
resistant to cutting or chewing
noun
-
A cruel and brutal fellow
(
hooligan
, tough
, yob
, yobbo
, bully
, roughneck
, rowdy
, ruffian
, yobo
)
a cruel and brutal fellow
-
[Informal]
An aggressive and violent young criminal
(
goon
[Informal] , hoodlum
, strong-armer
, thug
, hood
[Slang] , punk
[Informal, N. American] , tough
[Informal] , toughie
[Informal] )
an aggressive and violent young criminal
-
[Informal]
Someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
(
street fighter
, tough
[Informal] )
someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing