tough
/tʌf/
adjective
- Strong and able to endure hardship, pain, or difficult conditions.
- This fabric is tough and won't tear easily.
- My grandmother is a tough woman who raised five kids on her own.
- The hikers were tough enough to complete the trail in the rain.
- Difficult to do, deal with, or overcome.
- The math test was really tough, but I think I passed.
- Losing the championship was a tough pill to swallow.
- It's tough to find a parking spot downtown during the week.
- Firm and difficult to cut, chew, or break.
- The bread had gone stale and was tough as a rock.
- The steak was so tough I could barely cut it with my knife.
- The leather on this old jacket is still tough and durable.
- Strict, severe, or demanding.
- My parents were tough about curfew when I was a teenager.
- The coach is tough on his players, but he wants them to improve.
- The school has tough rules about cell phone use in class.
noun
- A person who is rough, violent, or intimidating, especially a criminal or bully.
- The neighborhood toughs used to pick on smaller kids.
- A couple of toughs were hanging around outside the bar.
- The movie features a classic tough with a heart of gold.
verb
- To endure or get through a difficult situation (usually in the phrase 'tough it out').
- We can tough this hike if we take a short break.
- She had to tough out the long winter without heat in her apartment.
- The team decided to tough it out and finish the game despite the rain.