tough

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtʌf/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/tʌf/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(tuf )

Inflections of 'tough' (adj):
tougher
adj comparative
toughest
adj superlative

tough
WordReference English Thesaurus © 2025
Sense: Adjective: strong
Synonyms:
strong Collocations, robust Collocations, hardy, sturdy Collocations, hard Collocations, hardened, rugged Collocations, stout Collocations, durable Collocations
Antonyms:
weak Collocations, feeble Collocations, puny, brittle Collocations, ailing Collocations, crippled Collocations, fainthearted, helpless Collocations, vulnerable Collocations
Sense: Adjective: arduous - informal
Synonyms:
difficult Collocations, hard Collocations, challenging Collocations, laborious, arduous, backbreaking, killer Collocations, murderous, grueling, gruelling (UK), strenuous, demanding Collocations, heavy Collocations, rigorous, harsh Collocations, rough Collocations, severe Collocations, brutal, hard going (informal), a struggle
Antonyms:
easy Collocations, straightforward Collocations, simple Collocations, clear Collocations, obvious Collocations, nothing to it, down-to-earth, friendly Collocations, easygoing Collocations, approachable, lenient Collocations, yielding, kind hearted, painless
Sense: Adjective: problematic - informal
Synonyms:
thorny, sticky Collocations, difficult Collocations, hairy Collocations (slang), touchy Collocations, delicate Collocations, knotty, prickly, problematic, tricky Collocations, ticklish, hard Collocations
Sense: Adjective: difficult to chew
Synonyms:
chewy, leathery, rubbery, sinewy, hard to chew, overdone
Antonyms:
tender Collocations, overcooked, al dente, slow-cooked, mushy, creamy, digestible
Sense: Adjective: strict or severe
Synonyms:
strict Collocations, stern Collocations, harsh Collocations, severe Collocations, austere, rigid, rigorous, hardened, hardhearted, hard-hearted
Sense: Noun: rough person - US, informal
Synonyms:
ruffian, thug Collocations, bullyboy (slang), hoodlum (dated), hooligan, heavy Collocations (slang), gangbanger (slang), gangster Collocations, gangsta (slang), mobster, bully Collocations, punk Collocations (slang), lout


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