strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.

not brittle or tender.

difficult to masticate, as food

a tough steak.

of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter

tough molasses.

capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy

tough troops.

not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn

a tough man to work for.

hardened; incorrigible

a tough criminal.

difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome

a tough problem.

hard to bear or endure (often used ironically)

tough luck.

vigorous; severe; violent

a tough struggle.

vicious; rough; rowdyish

a tough character; a tough neighborhood.

practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.

Slang . remarkably excellent; first-rate; great.

in a tough manner.

a ruffian; rowdy. ?

hang tough

Slang . hang ( def. 56 ) .

tough it out

Informal . to endure or resist hardship or adversity.

adjective

delicate , fragile , unstable , vulnerable , weak , wobbly , gentle , kind , nice , tender , controllable , easy , facile

adjective

brawny , cohesive , conditioned , dense , durable , fibrous , firm , fit , flinty , hard , hard as nails , hard-bitten , hardened , hardy , healthy , indigestible , inflexible , leathery , lusty , mighty , molded , resilient , resistant , rigid , robust , rugged , seasoned , sinewy , solid , stalwart , steeled , stiff , stout , strapping , tenacious , tight , tough as nails , unbreakable , unyielding , vigorous , withstanding , adamant , arbitrary , callous , confirmed , cruel , desperate , drastic , exacting , ferocious , fierce , fixed , hard-boiled * , hard-line * , hard-nosed , hard-shelled , harsh , headstrong , immutable , intractable , merciless , narrow , obdurate , pugnacious , refractory , resolute , ruffianly , ruthless , savage , severe , stern , strict , stubborn , taut , terrible , unalterable , unbending , uncompromising , uncontrollable , unforgiving , unmanageable , vicious , violent , arduous , backbreaking * , baffling , burdensome , demanding , effortful , exhausting , exigent , grievous , hairy * , handful * , heavy , intricate , irksome , knotty * , labored , mean , no piece of cake , onerous , oppressive , perplexing , puzzling , resisting , strenuous , taxing , thorny , toilsome , troublesome , trying , uphill * , weighty * , wicked , hard-handed , sturdy , backbreaking , difficult , formidable , laborious , rigorous , rough , weighty , serious , tall , uphill , knockabout , rough-and-tumble , constant , determined , steadfast , steady , unflinching , unwavering , (colloq.) difficult , adamantine , adhesive , aggressive , bold , crustaceous , enduring , feisty , forceful , impassive , inured , spartan , stoical , threatening

noun

bruiser , brute , bully , criminal , gangster , goon * , hood * , hoodlum , hooligan , punk * , rough * , roughneck , rowdy , ruffian , thug , villain , mug , aggressive , bard , brutal , bullheaded , callous , demanding , difficult , durable , enduring , flinty , goon , hardened , hardheaded , hardihood , hardy , harsh , laborious , leathery , mulish , obstinate , pigheaded , pugnacious , punk , resilient , resistant , resolute , rigid , robust , rough , rugged , ruthless , severe , stern , stiff , strenuous , strict , strong , stubborn , sturdy , taxing , tenacity , toughness , unfortunate , unyielding , uphill , vigorous , violent , viscous