Tough

adjective

təf

Adjective

very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
“the competition was tough”
“it's a tough life”
“it was a tough job”
Similar:Rugged
physically toughened
“the tough bottoms of his feet”
Similar:Toughened
See also:ExperientExperiencedRugged
substantially made or constructed
“a tough all-weather fabric”
“some plastics are as tough as metal”
Similar:Sturdy
unfortunate or hard to bear
“a tough break”
Similar:Hard
violent and lawless
“tough street gangs”
Similar:Ruffianly
feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')
“he was feeling tough after a restless night”
Similar:Bad
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
“a tough character”
See also:HardInsensitive
making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
Similar:BafflingElusive Knotty ProblematicProblematical
resistant to cutting or chewing
See also:InedibleUneatable

someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
Type of:ScrapperCombatantBattler
an aggressive and violent young criminal
Similar:Goon Hood Hoodlum PunkStrong-armer
Type of:MalefactorCriminalCrook
a cruel and brutal fellow
Similar:Bully Hooligan Roughneck RowdyRuffian
Type of:AssaulterAttackerAggressor