tough

Definition

Examples

It was a tough year for the company, but profits are recovering.

Word Family

Synonyms

• difficultnot easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
• durableexisting for a long time
• demandingrequest urgently and forcefully

Collocations

• Easy tough meat
  describing tough meat (someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing)
• Medium tough business decision
  describing tough business decision (someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing)
• Hard enforce tough regulatory standards
  to enforce tough regulatory standards, meaning to ensure observance of laws and rules
• Very Hard a tough nut to crack
  referring to a tough nut to crack