Tough Definition
tough
adjective
- not given to gentleness or sentimentality; "a tough character"
- very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution; "a rugged competitive examination"; "the rugged conditions of frontier life"; "the competition was tough"; "it's a tough life"; "it was a tough job"
- physically toughened; "the tough bottoms of his feet"
- substantially made or constructed; "sturdy steel shelves"; "sturdy canvas"; "a tough all-weather fabric"; "some plastics are as tough as metal"
- violent and lawless; "the more ruffianly element"; "tough street gangs"
- feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad'); "my throat feels bad"; "she felt bad all over"; "he was feeling tough after a restless night"
- resistant to cutting or chewing
- unfortunate or hard to bear; "had hard luck"; "a tough break"
- making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe; "a baffling problem"; "I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast"; "a problematic situation at home"
noun
- someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
- an aggressive and violent young criminal
- a cruel and brutal fellow
"Tough" in song lyrics
See how tough is used in real songs:
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"He thought that he was bad, he thought he was tough"
2 Live Crew — Check it Out Y'all -
"cause brothers got it real tough"
51.50 — Games People Play -
"well remember how the whole crew used to hang tough"
Aceyalone — Makeba
Words that rhyme with tough
Usage tips for "tough"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "tough" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for tough to find words that pair well.