(superl.) Having the quality of flexibility without brittleness; yielding to force without breaking; capable of resisting great strain; as, the ligaments of animals are remarkably tough.
(superl.) Not easily broken; able to endure hardship; firm; strong; as, tough sinews.
(superl.) Not easily separated; viscous; clammy; tenacious; as, tough phlegm.
(superl.) Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow.
(superl.) Severe; violent; as, a tough storm.
Example Sentences:
(1) Photograph: Guardian The research also compiled data covered by a wider definition of tax haven, including onshore jurisdictions such as the US state of Delaware – accused by the Cayman islands of playing "faster and looser" even than offshore jurisdictions – and the Republic of Ireland, which has come under sustained pressure from other EU states to reform its own low-tax, light-tough, regulatory environment.
(2) Nick Robins, head of the Climate Change Centre at HSBC, said: "If you think about low-carbon energy only in terms of carbon, then things look tough [in terms of not using coal].
(3) A series of hierarchical multiple regressions revealed the effects of Surgency, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect on evoking upset in spouses through condescension (e.g., treating spouse as stupid or inferior), possessiveness (demanding too much time and attention), abuse (slapping spouse), unfaithfulness (having sex with others), inconsiderateness (leaving toilet seat up), moodiness (crying a lot), alcohol abuse (drinking too much alcohol), emotional constriction (hiding emotions to act tough), and self-centeredness (acting selfishly).
(4) A lfred Ekpenyong knows first hand how tough it can be to find a secure foothold in mainstream society after leaving prison.
(5) The texture of a food item can be distinguished in hardness, toughness, stickiness, juiciness and chewability.
(6) Even as the Obama administration moves to deal with some of Guantánamo's most notorious captives, it faces tough challenges to closing the facility.
(7) "It's a tough group but other groups are also tough.
(8) This allowed it to claim that it was becoming more professional, tough minded and responsible.
(9) The austerity programmes administered by western governments in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis were, of course, intended as a remedy, a tough but necessary course of treatment to relieve the symptoms of debts and deficits and to cure recession.
(10) And he pleased the audience with an acknowledgement that social work is a tough job and social workers only human.
(11) Trade unions have sought to highlight the insecurity of workers who have been forced into self-employment in the tough jobs market of recent years.
(12) UK negotiatiors, though, fought back hard -- thus Cameron's fighting talk in his press conference ( see 12.46pm ) 12.49pm BST Open Europe tweets Cameron's tough talk on the rebate: Open Europe (@OpenEurope) Cameron: in Feb we reached a clear deal rebate would remain unchanged, since then some have tried to question this agreement June 28, 2013 Open Europe (@OpenEurope) Cameron: I defeated these attempts to change the rebate, it will remain unchanged for this long term budget June 28, 2013 12.46pm BST David Cameron press conference underway In Brussels, David Cameron is holding his press conference now.
(13) The mechanical properties of compressed beam specimens of microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel pH 101) have been assessed in terms of the tensile strength (sigma t), Young's modulus (E) and the following fracture mechanics parameters: the critical stress intensity factor (KIC), the critical strain energy release rate (GIC) and the fracture toughness (R).
(14) "2013 was a tough year for us both in minerals and in oil and gas," Cochrane said, adding that the group had relied on"self help", including diversification which offset some of the challenges in its core mining market, improving operational efficiency, and strong growth in its after sales business, where orders were up 16% on 2012 and which accounted for 63% of revenues last year.
(15) "We carved out a few chances, but it was tough to break them down."
(16) Channel 5 will be hoping for a similar return for its new series, although with the launch audience around a third down on last year's opener, it may prove a tough ask.
(17) Dimon, the charismatic leader of the bank, had enjoyed a reputation as a tough, strict taskmaster, the kind of CEO every bank should have.
(18) Cameron put all of his betting chips on what seemed to be the party's trump card: the "vote for us, we're tough on migration and tough on migrants" strategy.
(19) As well as limited terms for MPs, Grillo has called for a referendum on the euro and a tough line on immigration.
(20) "It's a tough game but our best football has come in this competition and we'll try and show it next week.
Toughen
Definition:
(v. i. & t.) To grow or make tough, or tougher.
Example Sentences:
(1) Stringer, a Vietnam war veteran who was knighted in 1999, is already inside the corporation, if only for a few months, after he was appointed as one of its non-executive directors to toughen up the BBC's governance following a string of scandals, from the Jimmy Savile abuse to multimillion-pound executive payoffs.
(2) May’s rhetoric against the Labour leader appeared to have toughened significantly, underlining the Conservatives’ determination to exploit what they regard as Corbyn’s weaknesses.
(3) It is possible that future materials will be developed on the lines of these polyelectrolyte cements in which higher molecular weight polymers are used in conjunction with polymers that contain photoinitiators to effect light curing and toughen the matrix.
(4) But the pending toughening of the rules merely angers lawyers acting for the detainees even more – why, they ask, did the Obama administration not act more quickly to effect transfers before the squeeze was imposed.
(5) Cameron is minded to demand a toughened up form of independent regulation, but to give the newspaper industry six months to put its house in order or face statutory controls.
(6) By doing risky things, we are toughening ourselves up for a dangerous world.
(7) The referral came at a time of growing public and political pressure on the police and prosecutors over their failure to bring a single prosecution for FGM in the UK since it was made illegal in 1985, legislation that subsequently toughened in 2003.
(8) He has also advised Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia on how to toughen up their policies.
(9) The first CFC rules were finalised in 1984 but Dodwell says the big changes took place in 2000 when Gordon Brown toughened up the stance towards "overseas financing companies".
(10) We have to toughen up, but City are probably going to win the league this year.” City could have gone ahead in the first few minutes when Tim Krul could not quite hold a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick at the foot of a post.
(11) London housing: politicians must toughen up on planning "viability" Read more “And now the housing grant has effectively gone,” he adds, “viability has become a one-way negotiation.
(12) Obama administration officials had promised to toughen the lax environmental regulations of the George Bush era.
(13) He's got to toughen up – he's playing for Man United.
(14) Davey said the rules were "significant and welcome toughening up of competition in electricity markets".
(15) The attorney general, George Brandis, said the data retention laws would come in as the third tranche of changes, the first tranche being previously proposed toughening of intelligence agency powers and the second tranche being the measures announced on Tuesday.
(16) Congress passed pretty strong new auto emissions standards in 2007, and just last week the Obama administration moved to toughen them further.
(17) Unless they agree to toughen their code of practice, the government will consult on legislation requiring banks to give customers fair notice of any changes to products.
(18) The department must not only understand the danger of either a provider or a commissioner going 'belly up', but also toughen up its contingency plans, drawing upon strong, effective and clear chains of governance and accountability throughout the new NHS model."
(19) Systematic swimming exercises in child preschool establishments increase toughening of children, resistance to unfavourable factors, and also favourably influence anthropometric indices.
(20) At the time, I was like, 'Man I've got to toughen up, get a thicker skin,' whereas in fact, being sensitive and thin-skinned and all the things I still am, lends itself to a career as an actor.