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TOUGH Synonyms

There are 42 synonyms of the word tough. (exact relations)
There are 14 hypernyms of the word tough. (close relations)

Best Alternative Words for TOUGH

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hard
adverb, adjectiveadv, adj
adjective

• not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

• dispassionate

• resisting weight or pressure

• produced without vibration of the vocal cords

• (of light) transmitted directly from a pointed light source

• (of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward or touching the velum

adverb

• with effort or force or vigor

• with firmness

• earnestly or intently

• causing great damage or hardship

• slowly and with difficulty

• indulging excessively

• into a solid condition

• very near or close in space or time

• with pain or distress or bitterness

• to the full extent possible; all the way

adjective satellite

• very strong or vigorous

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

• given to excessive indulgence of bodily appetites especially for intoxicating liquors

• being distilled rather than fermented; having a high alcoholic content

• unfortunate or hard to bear

• dried out

arduous
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

• taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance

• difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable mental effort and skill

backbreaking
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

challenging
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• requiring full use of your abilities or resources

• stimulating interest or thought

• disturbingly provocative

demanding
adjectiveadj
adjective

• requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill

difficult
adjectiveadj
adjective

• not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

• hard to control

exacting
adjectiveadj
adjective

• having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures

adjective satellite

• severe and unremitting in making demands

• requiring precise accuracy

formidable
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• extremely impressive in strength or excellence

• inspiring fear

grueling
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

laborious
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

onerous
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• not easily borne; wearing

punishing
adjectiveadj
adjective

• resulting in punishment

adjective satellite

• characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

rigorous
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard

• demanding strict attention to rules and procedures

strenuous
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• characterized by or performed with much energy or force

• taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance

taxing
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• not easily borne; wearing

testing
verb, nounv, n
noun

• the act of subjecting to experimental test in order to determine how well something works

• an examination of the characteristics of something

• the act of giving students or candidates a test (as by questions) to determine what they know or have learned

trying
adverb, adjectiveadv, adj
adjective satellite

• hard to endure

• extremely irritating to the nerves

uphill
adverb, adjectiveadv, adj
noun

• the upward slope of a hill

adverb

• against difficulties

• upward on a hill or incline

adjective satellite

• sloping upward

bad
adjectiveadj
adjective

• having undesirable or negative qualities

• feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

noun

• that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency

adverb

• with great intensity (`bad' is a nonstandard variant for `badly')

• very much; strongly

adjective satellite

• serious or severe

• feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')

• (of foodstuffs) not in an edible or usable condition

• not capable of being collected

• below average in quality or performance

• nonstandard

• not financially safe or secure

• physically unsound or diseased

• capable of harming

• characterized by wickedness or immorality

• reproduced fraudulently

• not working properly

baffling
adjectiveadj
adjective satellite

• making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe

Best Hypernyms For TOUGH

Here is a list of related hypernyms for tough, these are close relations that fall within the same topic. Most relevant words are highlighted and in order.
Words (14)
aggressor assailant assaulter attacker battler belligerent combatant criminal crook felon fighter malefactor outlaw scrapper

Alternatives for HARD

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