I. adjective
1.
Synonyms: strong 2, stalwart, stout, sturdy, tenacious
Related Word: flinty, hard, unyielding; resistant, unbreakable, withstanding
Idioms: tough as leather ( or nails)
Contrasted words: breakable; brittle; yielding
Antonyms: fragile
2.
Synonyms: viscous , tenacious, viscid, viscose
3.
advocating a persistently firm course of action
a tough foreign policy
Synonyms: hard-line, inflexible, uncompromising, unyielding
Related Word: stiff, taut; fixed, confirmed, hard-shell, narrow, rigid; arbitrary, immutable, unalterable; hard-boiled, hardened, obdurate; harsh, procrustean, rigorous, severe, strict; drastic
Contrasted words: liberal, relaxed; compromising, flexible, laissez-faire, yielding
Antonyms: soft
4.
having or exhibiting great physical endurance (as to strain, hardship, or labor)
the rigorous climate created a tough people
Synonyms: hardy, rugged
Related Word: conditioned, hard-bitten, hardened, seasoned, steeled; fit, healthy, lusty, robust, vigorous; stalwart, strong, sturdy
Contrasted words: delicate, fragile, frail, tender; half-hardy, puny; weakened
Antonyms: weak
5.
Synonyms: obstinate , bullheaded, headstrong, intractable, mulish, pertinacious, pigheaded, refractory, self-willed, stubborn
Related Word: hardfisted, hardhanded, hardheaded, tough-minded
6.
Synonyms: hard 6, arduous, difficult, effortful, labored, laborious, strenuous, toilful, toilsome, uphill
Antonyms: soft
7.
Synonyms: onerous , burdensome, demanding, exacting, exigent, grievous, oppressive, taxing, trying, weighty
Antonyms: soft
8.
frequented by rowdy or criminal elements
lived in a tough neighborhood
Synonyms: bad, rough
Related Word: disorderly, rowdy; dangerous, unsafe; ghetto, inner-city, underprivileged
Contrasted words: orderly, quiet, safe
II. noun
a rough or unruly person often taking part in bullying or violent behavior
attacked by a gang of toughs
Synonyms: ||b'hoy, bullyboy, mucker, mug, plug-ugly, punk, rough, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, toughie, yahoo; compare bully 1, thug 1
Related Word: goon, hood, hoodlum, hooligan