Tough: meaning, definitions and examples

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tough

[ tʌf ]

^{Context #1}

strong

Capable of great physical or mental strength.

Synonyms

hardy, resilient, strong

Examples of usage

He is a tough guy who never gives up.
She has a tough attitude towards challenges.

^{Context #2}

difficult

Difficult to deal with, manage, or overcome.

Synonyms

arduous, challenging, demanding

Examples of usage

It was a tough decision to make.
The exam was really tough.

^{Context #3}

informal

A tough person, especially a criminal.

Synonyms

criminal, ruffian, thug

Examples of usage

He was known as a tough in the neighborhood.
The toughs were causing trouble in the bar.

Translations

Translations of the word "tough" in other languages:

🇵🇹 difícil

🇮🇳 कठिन

🇩🇪 schwierig

🇮🇩 sulit

🇺🇦 важкий

🇵🇱 trudny

🇯🇵 難しい (むずかしい)

🇫🇷 difficile

🇪🇸 difícil

🇹🇷 zor

🇰🇷 어려운 (eoryeoun)

🇸🇦 صعب

🇨🇿 těžký

🇸🇰 ťažký

🇨🇳 困难 (kùnnán)

🇸🇮 težak

🇮🇸 erfiður

🇰🇿 қиын

🇬🇪 რთული

🇦🇿 çətin

🇲🇽 difícil

Word origin

The word 'tough' originated from Old English 'tōh', meaning strong, firm, solid. Over time, it evolved to its current usage to describe something strong or difficult. The word has been used in various contexts to indicate physical strength, mental resilience, and challenging situations.

See also: toughen, toughening, tougher, toughness.