toughs
Neighborhood menacing types
Toughs is the plural of tough when used as a noun for rough, aggressive people—street fighters, enforcers, or thugs: A group of toughs loitered outside the bar.
The word suggests physical intimidation and readiness for violence, though it can sound slightly dated or literary compared to alternatives like thugs or goons.
Violent criminals
- gangstersOrganized crime members
- hooligansViolent young troublemakers
- brutesCruel, violent people
- bulliesThose who intimidate others
ruffians · hoodlums · goons · enforcers · heavies · muscle · rowdies · roughnecks
Tolerates without yielding
- perseveresContinues despite difficulty
- survivesRemains alive despite hardship
- bearsSupports or tolerates
- toleratesPermits without approval
weathers · outlasts · braves · sticks out · holds out · powers through · rides out · sees through
Increases force or durability
- fortifiesStrengthens against threat
- tempersEmotional states prone to anger
- seasonsYear's four divisions
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
steels · anneals · cures · sets · stiffens · solidifies · reinforces · toughens up
thugs
Violent criminals
bullies · ruffians · hoodlums · goons · enforcers · heavies · muscle · rowdies · roughnecks · bruisers
withstands
Tolerates without yielding
- perseveresContinues despite difficulty
- survivesRemains alive despite hardship
- bearsSupports or tolerates
tolerates · weathers · outlasts · braves · sticks out · holds out · powers through · rides out · sees through · soldiers on
strengthens
Increases force or durability
- fortifiesStrengthens against threat
- tempersEmotional states prone to anger
- seasonsYear's four divisions
conditions · steels · anneals · cures · sets · stiffens · solidifies · reinforces · toughens up · callouses
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, brutes, ruffians
- fightersboxer, boxers, wrestler, Muhammad Ali, fighter
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
toughssweethearts
Romantic partners, affectionately named
softies · gentlefolk · lambs · milquetoasts · pacifists
toughsweaklings
Physically or mentally feeble people
pushovers · wimps · cowards · sissies · shrinking violets
toughsvictims
Those who suffer harm
innocents · do-gooders · pillars of the community · boy scouts · choirboys
- 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
tough, toughness, toughen, tougher, toughest, toughened, toughening, toughed, toughing