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tough
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- pronunciation:
- tuhf
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
tougher, toughest |
| definition 1: |
When something is tough, it is strong or hard to break. A plastic bag from a store is not very tough. It is easy to break. A bag made out of cloth or leather is much tougher.
Lily's mom loves her old boots. She says they are made out of tough leather, and she will keep wearing them for a long time.- synonyms:
- durable, sturdy
- antonyms:
- delicate, fragile
- similar words:
- lasting, strong
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| definition 2: |
When food is tough, it is hard to cut or chew.
I had to chew my meat for a long time because it was very tough. My dad said he cooked it too long.- synonyms:
- chewy
- antonyms:
- tender
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| definition 3: |
When someone is tough, it means that they are very strong, and they can stand things that are very hard for many other people to stand.
Soldiers are trained to be tough.You have to be tough to stay alive all alone in the desert.- antonyms:
- delicate, soft, weak
- similar words:
- courageous, strong
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| definition 4: |
When someone is tough, they sometimes scare other people, and sometimes they do mean things to try to show they are stronger or better than others. Tough people act as if nothing can hurt them and they can't be controlled by anybody else.
Michelle went to the other side of the playground because she didn't want to be near the tough bullies.- synonyms:
- aggressive, rough
- similar words:
- brutal, mean, vicious, violent
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| definition 5: |
When something is tough, it is hard to do or understand.
My mom says that being a firefighter is a tough job.Sam's dad said that reading was tough for him when he started learning. He said it got easier, though.The last problem on the homework sheet was really tough.- synonyms:
- difficult, hard
- antonyms:
- easy
- similar words:
- complex
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| definition 6: |
When something is tough, it makes life or work very difficult.
The Arctic is a tough climate to live in.- synonyms:
- hard, harsh
- antonyms:
- easy, soft
- similar words:
- bad, brutal, difficult, severe, unpleasant, wicked, wretched
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| related words: |
hard, painful, rough, stiff, sturdy, wild |
| derivations: |
toughly (adv.), toughness (n.) |
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