1. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] not given to gentleness or sentimentality.
Synonyms
- hard-bitten
- hard
- hard-boiled
- pugnacious
- insensitive
- tough-minded
Antonyms
- tender
- sensitive
- right
- innocent
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
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Words that Rhyme with Tough
- mcduff
- macduff
- rebuff
- mcgough
- mcgeough
- lebouef
- leboeuf
- stuff
- snuff
- slough
- scuff
- pluff
- gruff
- fluff
- enough
- cluff
- bruff
- bluff
- acuff
- tuff
- shuff
- schuff
- ruff
- ruf
- rough
- puff
- muff
- luff
- huff
- hough
How do you pronounce tough?
Pronounce tough as təf.
US - How to pronounce tough in American English
UK - How to pronounce tough in British English
Example sentences of the word tough
1. Adjective
Use bleach water on the ground and scrub with a clean broom, bristle brush or tough mop.
Quotes containing the word tough
1. The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.
- John Foster Dulles
2. My identity was a big issue when I was a teenager, and I had a lot of questions, like: 'Who am I?' 'Who do I belong to?' But when I was still quite young, I decided that belonging is a tough process in life, and I'd better say I belonged to myself and the world rather than belonging to one nationality or another.
- Hiam Abbass
3. I think God has a sense of humor, and the way my lessons come from God is very funny. I have to laugh at myself even if it's a tough lesson.
- Yvette Nicole Brown
2. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution.
Synonyms
- hard
- rugged
Antonyms
- superior
- uncover
- decriminalise
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
3. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] physically toughened.
Synonyms
- thickened
- weather-beaten
- experienced
- calloused
- inured
- strong
- callous
- hardened
- experient
- enured
- rugged
Antonyms
- tender
- inexperienced
- weak
- lawful
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
4. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] substantially made or constructed.
Synonyms
- rugged
Antonyms
- inelastic
- thin
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
5. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] violent and lawless.
Synonyms
- violent
Antonyms
- straight line
- straighten
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
6. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] feeling physical discomfort or pain (tough' is occasionally used colloquially forbad').
Synonyms
- uncomfortable
Antonyms
- orderly
- bad
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
7. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] unfortunate or hard to bear.
Synonyms
- hard
Antonyms
- legalize
- permit
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
8. tough
noun. ['ˈtʌf'] someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing.
Synonyms
- battler
- street fighter
- fighter
- belligerent
- combatant
Antonyms
- stale
- nonalcoholic
- mild
- regular
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
9. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe.
Synonyms
- problematical
- elusive
- hard
- problematic
- baffling
- knotty
Antonyms
- fat
- substantial
- palatable
- digestible
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))
10. tough
adjective. ['ˈtʌf'] resistant to cutting or chewing.
Synonyms
- chewy
- leathery
- tough-skinned
- cartilaginous
- gristly
- rubbery
- unchewable
- coriaceous
- stringy
- inedible
- leatherlike
- sinewy
- uneatable
- fibrous
- leathered
Antonyms
- edible
- decriminalize
- allow
- legal
Etymology
- toh (Old English (ca. 450-1100))