Laxi Dictionary

American Dictionary

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Definition tough in American English

tough adjective

adjective
/tʌf/

▪ assignment, battle, call, challenge, choice, decision, fight, target, task

Example

He's having a really tough time at the moment.

Example

It was a tough decision to move overseas.

Example

Many companies are facing tough competition.

Synonyms and related words
difficult hard tough
Example

I think she'll be all right because she's very tough.

Synonyms and related words
strong powerful athletic
3

confident, and determined to get what you want

Example

a tough businesswoman

Synonyms and related words
determined insistent ambitious confident proud dignified
4

very strict and severe

Example

The report contained tough criticism of the company's management style.

Example

She's campaigning for tough new laws on industrial pollution.

Example

The new mayor promises to be tough on crime.

Example

We must take a tough stance against terrorism.

Example

She promised to get tough with speeders.

Synonyms and related words
strict severe stern the nuclear option serious severe
5

food, especially meat, that is tough is very difficult to cut and chew

Synonyms and related words
boneless bony flyblown buttery calorific caramelized
Example

The tool is made from a very tough and resilient steel.

Synonyms and related words
strong irresistible sturdy
7

likely to behave in a violent way

Example

a couple of tough-looking boys

Synonyms and related words
violent ferocious bloodthirsty
8

a tough place is one in which there is a lot of crime and violence

Example

He grew up in a tough inner-city neighborhood.

Synonyms and related words
violent ferocious bloodthirsty
9

something or someone that is not easy to find, especially because there is a great demand for them

Example

A good teacher of Chinese is a tough get at the moment.

Definition tough in American English