tough
Difficult to break
Tough describes something difficult to cut, break, or penetrate—tough meat, tough leather, tough skin.
Extended to people, tough means able to endure hardship or adversity: She's tough—she can handle it.
A tough situation is difficult or demanding: a tough decision, tough questions.
Tough can also mean aggressive or uncompromising: a tough negotiator, tough on crime.
As a noun, a tough is a rough, violent person.
The informal tough luck or tough shit dismisses complaints unsympathetically.
Refusing to change course
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
rigid · firm · strict · hardline · unbending · intransigent · immovable · iron-willed
Coarse or courageous
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- strongHaving great physical power
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- determinedFirmly committed to purpose
persevering · steadfast · resolute · enduring · persistent · unflinching · hardened · seasoned
Solidly built, durable
- ruggedTough and uneven
- hard-wearingResistant to damage
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- long-lastingPersisting over extended time
reinforced · heavy-duty · indestructible · unbreakable · solid · strong · wear-resistant · armored
Firm or demanding
- challengingHard to accomplish
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- demandingRequiring great effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
strenuous · uphill · formidable · taxing · exhausting · laborious · onerous · punishing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- scaryCausing fright
formidable · gruff · hardened · mean · fierce · imposing · domineering · bullying
Lacking sympathy or mercy
- cold-heartedDevoid of empathy
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
pitiless · merciless · unsympathetic · cruel · indifferent · cold · stony · uncompassionate
stubborn
Refusing to change course
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
obstinate · rigid · firm · strict · hardline · unbending · intransigent · immovable · iron-willed · hard-nosed
gritty
Coarse or courageous
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- strongHaving great physical power
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
determined · persevering · steadfast · resolute · enduring · persistent · unflinching · hardened · seasoned · battle-tested
sturdy
Solidly built, durable
- ruggedTough and uneven
- hard-wearingResistant to damage
- resilientAble to recover quickly
long-lasting · reinforced · heavy-duty · indestructible · unbreakable · solid · strong · wear-resistant · armored · lasting
hard
Firm or demanding
- challengingHard to accomplish
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- demandingRequiring great effort
grueling · strenuous · uphill · formidable · taxing · exhausting · laborious · onerous · punishing · backbreaking
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
scary · formidable · gruff · hardened · mean · fierce · imposing · domineering · bullying · rough
hard-hearted
Lacking sympathy or mercy
- cold-heartedDevoid of empathy
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
insensitive · pitiless · merciless · unsympathetic · cruel · indifferent · cold · stony · uncompassionate · harsh
unfortunate
Deserving of pity
difficult · harsh · bitter · painful · cruel · unfair · regrettable · sorry · sad · troublesome
- difficultyeasy, hard, medium, difficult, moderate
- questionsquestion, inquiry, questions, query, interrogatives
- cooking flawsburned, overcooked, undercooked, scorched, raw
- durabilitydurable, sturdiness, robustness, sturdy, ruggedness
- strength wordsstrong, powerful, mighty, potent, robust
- strictsevere, stern, harsh, rigid, firm
tougheasy
Requiring minimal effort
simple · effortless · straightforward · painless · manageable
- tough luckDismissive acknowledgment of misfortune
- tough guyIntimidating, resilient person
- tough it outEndure without quitting
- tough loveBeneficial strictness from affection
- tough as nailsExceptionally strong and durable
- toughen upBecome less easily hurt
toughness, toughen, tougher, toughie, toughest, toughened, toughening, toughens, toughly