Tough - English meaning

adjective

Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.

Usage examples:

He is adamant that he is not going to resign

noun

A legendary rock or mineral to which many properties were attributed, formerly associated with diamond or lodestone.

Usage examples:

As for the magical metal, asiceton, it sounds like adamant.

adjective

Unwilling to be persuaded to change an opinion or decision

Usage examples:

She was adamant about becoming a dancer., the mayor adamantly refused to consider a tax increase.

noun

A person who is tough and aggressive and enjoys a fight or argument.

Usage examples:

Thick-necked bruisers in shell suits

noun

A big, strong, rough man

Usage examples:

He's an ugly bruiser - i wouldn't like to meet him in a dark alley!

noun

A savagely violent person or animal.

Usage examples:

He was a cold-blooded brute

adjective

Characterized by an absence of reasoning or intelligence.

Usage examples:

A brute struggle for social superiority

noun

A person who is offensive and rude, and often violent

Usage examples:

Historians have portrayed him as a brute who won only because of superior troop strength., they had…

noun

A person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

Usage examples:

He is a ranting, domineering bully

verb

Seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable).

Usage examples:

Her 11- year-old son has been constantly bullied at school

adjective

Very good; excellent.

Usage examples:

The statue really looked bully

adjective

Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

Usage examples:

His callous comments about the murder made me shiver

noun

Variant spelling of callus.

noun

A thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction.

adjective

Of or at a low or relatively low temperature, especially when compared with the human body.

Usage examples:

A freezing cold day

noun

A low temperature; cold weather; a cold environment.

Usage examples:

My teeth chattered with the cold

adverb

Completely; entirely.

Usage examples:

We stopped cold behind a turn in the staircase

adjective

Of or at a fairly low temperature.

Usage examples:

It'll be a cool afternoon

noun

A fairly low temperature.

Usage examples:

The cool of the night air

verb

Become or make less hot.

Usage examples:

We dived into the river to cool off

noun

A person who has committed a crime.

Usage examples:

These men are dangerous criminals

adjective

Relating to crime.

Usage examples:

They are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage

adjective

Involving or having the character of a crime

Usage examples:

She may face criminal charges for lying to a grand jury., he had an extensive criminal record (= an…

adjective

Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Usage examples:

He was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun

Believing the worst of human nature and motives

adjective

Not trusting or respecting the goodness of other people and their actions, but believing that people are interested only in themselves

Usage examples:

Listening to politicians for too long can make you cynical., she’s become cynical about men., he’s …

noun

A desperate or reckless person, especially a criminal.

Usage examples:

At the same time, he couldn't abide facile equations between criminal desperadoes and the legalized…

adjective

Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it.

Usage examples:

Alina was determined to be heard

verb

Cause (something) to occur in a particular way or to have a particular nature.

Usage examples:

It will be her mental attitude that determines her future

adjective

Showing the strong desire to follow a particular plan of action even if it is difficult

Usage examples:

A very determined young man, she had a determined look on her face., [ + to infinitive ] i’m determ…

adjective

Lacking organization; untidy.

Usage examples:

His life was as disorderly as ever

adjective

Threatening the safety of people or the peace of a neighborhood

Usage examples:

A disorderly crowd, he was charged with disorderly conduct., a disorderly desk

adjective

Having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.

Usage examples:

Success required dogged determination

verb

Follow (someone) closely and persistently.

Usage examples:

Photographers seemed to dog her every step

adjective

Determined to do something, even if it is very difficult

Usage examples:

John regan credited the capture to dogged persistence by police., gove spent much of the last decad…

adjective

Brave and persistent.

Usage examples:

His doughty spirit kept him going

adjective

Determined, brave, and unwilling ever to stop trying to achieve something

Usage examples:

She has been for many years a doughty campaigner for women's rights.

adjective

Able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.

Usage examples:

Porcelain enamel is strong and durable

noun

Short for consumer durables.

adjective

Able to last a long time without being damaged

Usage examples:

The fabric is the perfect blend for comfort, breathability and durability.

adjective

Having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure.

Usage examples:

The bed should be reasonably firm, but not too hard

verb

Make more solid or resilient.

Usage examples:

How can i firm up a sagging bustline?

adverb

In a resolute and determined manner.

Usage examples:

The chancellor has held firm to tough economic policies

adjective

Of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose.

Usage examples:

The house was not fit for human habitation

verb

Be of the right shape and size for.

Usage examples:

Those jeans still fit me

noun

The particular way in which something, especially a garment or component, fits.

Usage examples:

The dress was a perfect fit

noun

A member of a gang of violent criminals.

Usage examples:

Gangsters threatened to kill him if he did not cooperate in the theft

noun

A member of an organized group of violent criminals

noun

A powerfully built great ape with a large head and short neck, found in the forests of central africa. it is the largest living primate.

Usage examples:

One of the most endangered species in the world and the largest living primate, the lowland gorilla…

noun

A large ape (= animal like a monkey) that comes from western and central africa

noun

A large ape that comes from western africa

adjective

Containing or covered with grit.

Usage examples:

Her eyes felt gritty

adjective

Containing or covered with small pieces of stone or sand

Usage examples:

Gritty dust, a gritty, no-nonsense approach

adjective

Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced.

Usage examples:

The slate broke on the hard floor

adverb

With a great deal of effort.

Usage examples:

They work hard at school

noun

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go ).

adjective

If someone is hard-bitten, their character has been made stronger as a result of difficult experiences in the past

Usage examples:

This particular murder case was so horrific that it shocked even the most hard-bitten of new york p…

adjective

Not kind or sympathetic toward other people

adjective

A speech or piece of writing that is hard-hitting includes strong criticism of something

Usage examples:

The committee published a hard-hitting report on the bank's management.

adjective

If something, especially clothing or material, is hard-wearing it lasts for a long time and looks good even if it is used a lot.

adjective

Having become or been made hard or harder.

Usage examples:

Hardened steel

verb

Make or become hard or harder.

Usage examples:

Wait for the glue to harden

adjective

Having developed a way of dealing with bad experiences so that they no longer upset you

Usage examples:

The judge called him a hardened criminal (= one who will not stop his criminal activity).

adjective

Capable of enduring difficult conditions; robust.

Usage examples:

A hardy breed of cattle

adjective

Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.

Usage examples:

Drenched in a harsh white neon light

adjective

Unkind or cruel or uncivil

adjective

Unkind or cruel

Usage examples:

Harsh criticism, a harsh winter, harsh lighting

adjective

Of great weight; difficult to lift or move.

Usage examples:

A heavy and bulky load

noun

A thing, such as a vehicle, that is large or heavy of its kind.

Usage examples:

Meanwhile, he is leading the charge at airport to beef up the runway and expand support facilities …

adverb

Heavily.

Usage examples:

Heavy-laden

adjective

Designed to be strong enough to do very difficult work for a long time

Usage examples:

Heavy-duty tools

adjective

Strong and designed to be used for a long time

Usage examples:

These are large, heavy-duty bags for those who buy a lot of groceries., heavy duty vehicles/trucks/…

noun

A covering for the head and neck with an opening for the face, typically forming part of a coat or cloak.

Usage examples:

A jacket with a detachable hood

verb

Put a hood on or over.

Usage examples:

She was forced into a car, hooded, and taken to a cell

noun

A gangster or similar violent criminal.

Usage examples:

I been beaten up by hoods

noun

A person who engages in crime and violence; a hooligan or gangster.

Usage examples:

They were the ‘professional’ gangsters of new york, hoodlums and racketeers

noun

A criminal, esp. one who is a member of a group

Usage examples:

Hoodlums robbed two people in a convenience store, police said.

noun

A violent young troublemaker, typically one of a gang.

Usage examples:

A drunken hooligan

noun

A lout or hooligan, especially a young man who drives recklessly.

Usage examples:

The whole family was wiped out because some drunken hoon had to drive his car

verb

Behave in a loutish way, especially by driving recklessly.

Usage examples:

She noticed people hooning around ohariu valley

adjective

Not able to be destroyed.

Usage examples:

Indestructible plastic containers

adjective

Impossible to destroy or break

Usage examples:

The fireproof material used is virtually indestructible.

adjective

Unwilling to change or compromise.

Usage examples:

Once she had made up her mind, she was inflexible

adjective

Not governed by or obedient to laws; characterized by a lack of civic order.

Usage examples:

A lawless region where peace never really took hold

adjective

Not permitted by law or not obeying the law; illegal

Usage examples:

The territory was once speckled with ranches and lawless towns.

adjective

Continuing for a long period of time

Usage examples:

A long-lasting friendship

adjective

Showing no mercy.

Usage examples:

A merciless attack with a blunt instrument

adjective

Showing no kindness; cruel

Usage examples:

A merciless enemy, he was teased mercilessly at school.

adjective

Having great power or strength.

Usage examples:

A fast, powerful car

adverb

Very.

Usage examples:

Walking is powerful hot work

adjective

Strong

Usage examples:

The picture quality is bad because the tv signal isn’t powerful enough., a powerful drug, he’s in a…

adjective

Used to describe someone who seems full of confidence or sexual energy

Usage examples:

He says he's a red-blooded american male!

adjective

(of a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Usage examples:

Babies are generally far more resilient than new parents realize

adjective

Able to improve quickly after being hurt or being ill

Usage examples:

Life is hard there, but the people are resilient.

adjective

Able to return quickly to a previous good condition after problems

Usage examples:

The us economy remains amazingly resilient., resilient to sth the portfolio is designed to be resil…

adjective

Offering resistance to something or someone.

Usage examples:

Some of the old churches are resistant to change

adjective

Not easily changed or damaged, or not accepting of (something)

Usage examples:

Fire resistant, why are you so resistant to change?

adjective

Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.

Usage examples:

She was resolute and unswerving

adjective

Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; not flexible.

Usage examples:

A seat of rigid orange plastic

noun

A lorry which is not articulated.

adjective

Strong and healthy; vigorous.

Usage examples:

The caplan family are a robust lot

adjective

(of a person, animal, or plant) strong and healthy, or (of food or drink) full of flavor

Usage examples:

She was in robust health., the house blend of coffee is particularly robust.

adjective

Strong and unlikely to break or fail

Usage examples:

Exports will continue to be bolstered by the robust economy., we should be able to generate stronge…

adjective

Having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level.

Usage examples:

They had to carry the victim across the rough, stony ground

adverb

In a manner that lacks gentleness; harshly or violently.

Usage examples:

Treat 'em rough but treat 'em fair

noun

A disreputable and violent person.

Usage examples:

The rear of the column was attacked by roughs

noun

A rough and uncouth person.

Usage examples:

The usual roughnecks and gangsters

verb

Work on an oil rig.

Usage examples:

He gave up college to roughneck on wells in west texas

adjective

Noisy and disorderly.

Usage examples:

It was a rowdy but good-natured crowd

noun

A noisy and disorderly person.

Usage examples:

We are accused of being rowdies in the pub

noun

A violent person, especially one involved in crime.

adjective

(of ground or terrain) having a broken, rocky, and uneven surface.

Usage examples:

A rugged coastline

adjective

Having or showing no pity or compassion for others.

Usage examples:

A ruthless manipulator

adjective

Without mercy or pity

adjective

Cruel, or determined to succeed without caring about others

Usage examples:

A ruthless ruler, to compete abroad requires ruthless cost-cutting at home.

adjective

(of something bad or undesirable) very great; intense.

Usage examples:

A severe shortage of technicians

adjective

Causing great pain, difficulty, damage, etc.; very serious

Usage examples:

A severe earthquake, the family faced severe challenges when he lost his job., severe criticism

adjective

Firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid.

Usage examples:

The stream was frozen solid

noun

A substance or object that is solid rather than liquid or fluid.

Usage examples:

I was reminded of high school physics where we learned that solids conduct sound better than both l…

adjective

Having a fixed shape that cannot be changed easily

Usage examples:

After flying all night, he was glad to be on solid ground., solid rock, a solid oak table, solid go…

noun

Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.

Usage examples:

Light travels faster than sound

verb

Emit or cause to emit sound.

Usage examples:

A loud buzzer sounded

adjective

In good condition; not damaged, injured, or diseased.

Usage examples:

They returned safe and sound

adjective

Loyal, reliable, and hard-working.

Usage examples:

He remained a stalwart supporter of the cause

noun

A loyal, reliable, and hard-working supporter of or participant in an organization or team.

Usage examples:

The stalwarts of the labour party

adjective

(of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline.

Usage examples:

A smile transformed his stern face

noun

The rearmost part of a ship or boat.

Usage examples:

He stood at the stern of the yacht

adjective

Severe

Usage examples:

Sterner punishment may produce better behavior, but i doubt it., he sternly reminded his son to dri…

adjective

Not easily bent or changed in shape; rigid.

Usage examples:

A stiff black collar

noun

A dead body.

Usage examples:

When the bodies of various stiffs start disappearing from the local morgue, the police are baffled …

verb

Cheat (someone) out of something, especially money.

Usage examples:

Several workers were stiffed out of their pay

adjective

(of a person) rather fat or of heavy build.

Usage examples:

Stout middle-aged men

noun

A kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley.

Usage examples:

There is a tradition in england of drinking stout while eating oysters

adjective

(of people) fat and solid-looking, esp. around the waist, or (of things) thick and strong

Usage examples:

He was seen as a pleasant man – short, a bit stout and balding, with a radiant smile., there is muc…

adjective

Demanding that rules concerning behaviour are obeyed and observed.

Usage examples:

My father was very strict

adjective

Limiting people’s freedom to behave as they wish beyond what is usual

Usage examples:

The school is an old-fashioned institution with strict discipline., do you think stricter laws woul…

adjective

Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.

Usage examples:

She cut through the water with her strong arms

adjective

Physically powerful or energetic

Usage examples:

You must be strong to be able to lift all that weight., i feel a little stronger every day., strong…

adjective

An activity or industry that is strong is growing and becoming more successful

Usage examples:

Economic news has been better than expected, with retail sales remaining strong., worldwide sales b…

adjective

(of a person or their body) strongly and solidly built.

Usage examples:

He had a sturdy, muscular physique

noun

Vertigo in sheep caused by a tapeworm larva encysted in the brain.

adjective

Strong or solid

Usage examples:

That ladder doesn’t look sturdy enough to hold you.

adjective

Of considerable importance, size, or worth.

Usage examples:

A substantial amount of cash

adjective

Large in size, value, or importance

Usage examples:

He took a substantial amount of money., they do a substantial portion of their business by phone.

adjective

Large in size, value, or importance

Usage examples:

Substantial benefits/costs/investment, a substantial amount/number/portion of sth banks make a subs…

noun

A violent person, especially a criminal.

Usage examples:

He was attacked by a gang of thugs

verb

Make or become stronger or more resilient.

Usage examples:

He tried to toughen his son up by sending him to public school

verb

Past simple and past participle of toughen

Usage examples:

The un announced its intentions to toughen sanctions still further., the government wants to toughe…

noun

A person who is tough and determined.

Usage examples:

She was a toughie on the phone

noun

A difficult question or problem

Usage examples:

That last question was a real toughie.

adjective

Reserved, formal, or strict in one's behaviour or attitudes; austere and inflexible.

Usage examples:

He was so unbending and uncompromising

verb

Make or become straight from a bent or twisted form or position.

Usage examples:

I had trouble unbending my cramped knees

adjective

If someone is unbending, they often make fixed judgments and decisions that they are unwilling to change

Usage examples:

He has earned a reputation as a stern and unbending politician.

adjective

Not liable to break or able to be broken easily.

Usage examples:

The flask is guaranteed unbreakable

adjective

Not displaying sympathy or concern for others.

Usage examples:

An uncaring father

adjective

Not worrying about other people's troubles or doing anything to help them

Usage examples:

The charity criticized the city for its "callous, uncaring attitude" to the homeless.

adjective

Showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others, especially by changing one's ways or opinions.

Usage examples:

His uncompromising stance on the issue

adjective

(of a person or a person's opinions) fixed and not easily changed

Usage examples:

People are intimidated by her uncompromising ways.

adjective

Disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control.

Usage examples:

A group of unruly children

adjective

Difficult to control or manage

Usage examples:

Her unruly behavior caused chaos in class.

adjective

Not displaying or influenced by sentimental feelings.

Usage examples:

The speeches were short and unsentimental

adjective

Not influenced by emotions or not giving too much importance to emotions, especially love or sadness

Usage examples:

They have an unsentimental approach to life., her reminiscences of her impoverished childhood are v…

adjective

Not feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy.

Usage examples:

I'm not being unsympathetic, but i can't see why you put up with him

adjective

Not sympathetic (= showing that you understand or care about someone's suffering)

adjective

(of a mass or structure) not giving way to pressure; hard or solid.

Usage examples:

The atlantic hurled its waves at the unyielding rocks

adjective

Not giving up control or responsibility for (something) as a result of influence or persuasion

Usage examples:

The economist showed an unyielding commitment to tough financial stability.

adjective

Deliberately cruel or violent.

Usage examples:

A vicious assault

adjective

Able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

adjective

(of an act) intending to hurt badly, or (of a person or animal) likely to be violent

Usage examples:

I don’t believe he is a vicious dog., the few who disagreed became the targets of vicious written a…

adjective

Using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

Usage examples:

A violent confrontation with riot police

adjective

Using or involving force to hurt or attack

Usage examples:

Violent crime, the police are concerned about the possibility of violent behavior at the demonstrat…

adverb

In a good or satisfactory way.

Usage examples:

The whole team played well

adjective

In good health; free or recovered from illness.

Usage examples:

I don't feel very well

exclamation

Used to express a range of emotions including surprise, anger, resignation, or relief.

Usage examples:

Well, really! the manners of some people!

adjective

(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.

Usage examples:

A herd of wild goats

noun

A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region.

Usage examples:

Kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild

verb

Treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous.

Usage examples:

Let your pigeon fly for a while: we don't want to wild him

noun

A rude, noisy, or violent person.

Usage examples:

The young people, they have no religion, and the yahoos are coming home to roost.

exclamation

Expressing great joy or excitement.

Usage examples:

Yahoo—my plan worked!

noun

A rude, loud, unpleasant person, especially one who has little education

Usage examples:

"yahoo! i passed!" he shouted.

noun

A rude, noisy, and aggressive young person.

Usage examples:

They urged police to crack down on racist yobs before youths took the law into their own hands.

noun

A young man who behaves in a very rude, offensive, and sometimes violent way

Usage examples:

A gang of loud-mouthed yobs

noun

Another term for yob.

noun

A young man who behaves in a very rude, offensive, and sometimes violent way

Usage examples:

A gang of loud-mouthed yobs