toughness
Ability to persist
Toughness is the quality of being able to withstand hardship, strain, or damage.
Physical toughness means durability—a material's toughness determines whether it cracks under stress.
Personal toughness implies resilience and determination: She showed real toughness getting through that year.
Mental toughness is the capacity to perform under pressure without breaking down.
Determination or abrasive particles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
fortitude · resolve · willpower · backbone · mettle · steadfastness · persistence · spirit
Resistance to wear
- hardnessResistance to penetration
- strengthPower to exert force
- sturdinessStrength and solidity
- tensile strengthResistance to pulling force
impact resistance · solidity · firmness · ruggedness · robustness · reinforcement · structural integrity · load-bearing
Capacity for sustained effort
- staying powerCapacity to keep going
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- vigorActive physical strength
- hardinessAbility to endure adversity
survival · persistence · long-suffering · patience · tolerance · threshold · recovery · adaptation
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
- challengeTest of ability
obstacle · tribulation · difficulty · plight · setback · test · crucible · baptism by fire
Fortitude facing danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- valorCourage in danger
intrepidity · dauntlessness · nerve · daring · audacity · gallantry · heroism · stout-hearted
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- alloyMetallic combination
- carbon fiberReinforced polymer composite
- kevlarBullet-resistant synthetic fiber
- titaniumElement twenty-two
tempered · hardened · annealed · composite · polymer · ceramic · tensile · ductility
Strict or ship's aft
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
- hard-nosedStubbornly realistic, unsentimental
no-nonsense · demanding · exacting · unyielding · firm · harsh · severe · stringent
grit
Determination or abrasive particles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
tenacity · fortitude · resolve · willpower · backbone · mettle · steadfastness · persistence · spirit · pluck
durability
Resistance to wear
- hardnessResistance to penetration
- strengthPower to exert force
- sturdinessStrength and solidity
tensile strength · impact resistance · solidity · firmness · ruggedness · robustness · reinforcement · structural integrity · load-bearing · shock absorption
stamina
Capacity for sustained effort
- staying powerCapacity to keep going
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- vigorActive physical strength
hardiness · survival · persistence · long-suffering · patience · tolerance · threshold · recovery · adaptation · conditioning
hardship
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
challenge · obstacle · tribulation · difficulty · plight · setback · test · crucible · baptism by fire · uphill battle
courage
Fortitude facing danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
valor · intrepidity · dauntlessness · nerve · daring · audacity · gallantry · heroism · stout-hearted · lionhearted
steel
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- alloyMetallic combination
- carbon fiberReinforced polymer composite
- kevlarBullet-resistant synthetic fiber
titanium · tempered · hardened · annealed · composite · polymer · ceramic · tensile · ductility · metallurgy
stern
Strict or ship's aft
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
hard-nosed · no-nonsense · demanding · exacting · unyielding · firm · harsh · severe · stringent · authoritarian
- mineralsquartz, marble, granite, limestone, sandstone
- fortitudefortitude, mental fortitude, grit, resolve, tenacity
- resilienceresilience, grit, bounce back, bouncing back, robustness
- self-disciplineself-discipline, self-control, self-regulation, restraint, impulse control
- tenacitydetermined, persistence, persistent, perseverance, determination
- machomachismo, macho man, alpha male, bravado, testosterone
toughnessfragility
Ease of breaking
flimsiness · brittleness · weakness · delicacy · frailty
toughnessweakness
Deficiency in force
fragility · vulnerability · frailty · sensitivity · delicacy
toughnesstenderness
Gentle, caring quality
gentleness · softness · kindness · easiness · leniency
- mental toughnessPsychological resilience capacity