Definition: 1. Very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution. 2. A cruel and brutal fellow. 3. Violent and lawless. 4. Having or causing problems or difficulties. 5. Unfortunate.
Use 'tough' in a sentence:
1. She doesn't seem cut out for this tough neighbourhood.
2. She is tough, unwilling to take no for an answer.
3. His record reveals a tough streak.
4. She's been having a tough time of it (= a lot of problems) lately.
5. He is known for taking a tough line on security.
6. 'Tough' and 'through' don't rhyme.
7. He announced tough measures to limit the money supply.
8. He is finding prison life "real tough."
9. He was having a really tough time at work.
10. Arthur grew up in a tough city.
11. She's a tough lady.
12. He plays the tough guy in the movie.
13. It was tough on her being dropped from the team like that.
14. She's been having a tough time of it lately.
15. She had a pretty tough childhood.
16. She's hard-boiled, tough, and funny.
17. Don't be too tough on him─he was only trying to help.
18. He has a reputation for being tough and uncompromising.
19. It can be tough trying to juggle a career and a family.
20. The government insists that 'prison works' and plans to introduce a tougher sentencing policy for people convicted of violent crime.
21. The meat was tough and flavourless.
22. Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job getting the economy back on its feet…
23. It's about time teachers started to get tough with bullies.
24. The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference.
25. I had set myself a tough assignment.
26. The school takes a tough line on cheating.
27. The government has introduced some tough new laws on food hygiene.
28. The steak was tough and the peas were like bullets.
29. She is tough and ambitious.
30. He had shot three people dead earning himself a reputation as a tough guy.
31. It was tough talk, coming from a man who had begun the year in a hospital bed.
32. He's a tough old bugger.
33. The White House is hanging tough for a good agreement to be reached.
34. The reptile's skin is tough and scaly.
35. Tweed is timeless, tactile and tough.
36. Julia was a very tough, sharp-tongued woman.
37. There are tough penalties for drinking and driving.
38. It was a tough decision to make.
39. You're just going to have to tough it out.
40. It was a tough race and I had to pace myself.
41. He built up a reputation as a tough businessman.
42. Don't be too tough on him ─ he was only trying to help.
43. She is bright, tough and spunky.
44. He was not the 'tough guy' the public identified him with.
45. The new democracies face tough challenges.
46. The government is introducing tougher measures to combat crime.
47. That's a tough call.
48. In industry, diamond can form a tough, non-corrosive coating for tools.
49. It's been a tough day…
50. I've always been drawn to tough, gutsy women.
51. He was criticized for his tough stand on immigration.
52. You think you're so tough, don't you?
53. He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far.
54. It's going to be tough, but these guys learn quickly.
55. He wants to be the tough rebel who bucks the system.
56. She had a pretty tough childhood…
57. Their quarterback is one tough hombre.
58. The school takes a tough line on (= punishes severely) cheating.
59. It was a very tough decision but we feel we made the right one.
60. He was the quintessential tough guy.
61. It was a tough but clean game.
62. She's had a really tough time the last year and a half.
