Synonyms of tough
120 similar words
Another word for tough is grim. Other synonyms of tough are unyielding, hard, rigid, granitic and firm.
Synonyms and similar words for tough
adjectiveOf a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.
- robust
- stout
- adamantine literaryOf a person: refusing to change one's mind; obstinate, stubborn.
- concrete
- firm
- graniticOf, pertaining to, or containing granite.
- grimDismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.
- hardDifficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
- inflexible
- lithic
- resistant
- rigidUncompromising.
- solid
- stiff
- sturdy
- stonyOf a person, lacking warmth and emotion.
- unbending
- unyieldingNot giving in; not bending; stubborn.
adjectiveOf food, difficult to cut or chew.
- unchewableThat cannot be chewed.
adjectiveOf a person, stubborn or persistent; capable of stubbornness or persistence.
- hardheadedStubborn; wilful.
- tenacious
- adamant
- ardent
- untiring
- bent onCompletely determined; obstinate.
- bloody-mindedObstinate; stubborn.
- bullheadedUnreasonably stubborn.
- certain
- chronic
- confirmed
- determinedDecided; resolute, possessing much determination; dogged.
- diehard
- doggedStubbornly persevering, steadfast.
- hard-hearted
- hard-nosedTough and relentlessly practical and thus not given to sentiment.
- headstrongDetermined to do as one pleases, and not as others want.
- immovableSteadfast in purpose or intention: unalterable, unyielding.
- incalcitrantRecalcitrant.
- insistent
- intractable
- intransigentUnwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable; stubborn.
- intrepidFearless; bold; brave.
- inveterate
- mulishCharacteristic of a mule; stubborn, obstinate, or intractable.
- obdurate
- obstinate
- obstreperousStubbornly defiant; disobedient; resistant to authority or control (whether in a noisy manner or not).
- peremptory
- persistent
- pertinacious
- pigheadedObstinate and stubborn to the point of stupidity.
- recalcitrant
- refractoryObstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
- resolute
- resolvedDetermined; fixed in one's purpose.
- self-willed
- stalwart
- staunchStubborn, intransigent.
- steadfast
- steady
- stubborn
- stubborn as a muleExtremely stubborn.
- terminal
- thranStubborn; obstinate; pigheaded.
- truculentDefiant or uncompromising.
- uncompromising
- vehementShowing strong feelings; passionate; forceful or intense.
- wilful
- willfulAmerican standard spelling of wilful.
- irrefragable obsoleteOf a person: obstinate, stubborn.
- peevish obsoleteObstinately in the wrong; perverse, stubborn.
- sullen obsoleteObstinate; intractable.
- thwart datedOf people: having a tendency to oppose; obstinate, perverse, stubborn.
adjectiveOf weather, harsh or severe.
adjectiveRowdy or rough.
- disorderly
- unrulyWild; uncontrolled.
adjectiveOf a question, difficult or demanding.
adjectiveStrict, not lenient.
- harshSevere or cruel.
- strictSevere in discipline.
- brutalHarsh; unrelenting.
- callousEmotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering/feelings of others.
- coldWithout compassion; heartless; ruthless.
- insensate formalUnfeeling, heartless, cruel, insensitive.
- hardhanded
- cold-eyedThat looks coldly or dispassionately; having a fierce or aloof mein.
- cruelHarsh; severe.
- dour
- thick-skinned
- flint-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- forbiddingAppearing to be threatening, unfriendly or potentially unpleasant.
- frostyHaving an aloof or inhospitable manner.
- hard-boiledOf a person, especially a detective, callous and unsentimental.
- hardenedUnfeeling; pitiless; callous.
- hardheartedLacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.
- heartlessWithout feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.
- humorlessLacking humor or levity; serious; not funny, amusing, amused, or lighthearted.
- icyCharacterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
- iron-heartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- insensitiveNot expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic.
- marble-heartedEmotionally cold, cruel, and unfeeling.
- rigorous
- rockheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- severeStrict or harsh.
- stern
- stoneheartedSynonym of hardhearted.
- stonyheartedCruel, compassionless, discompassionate, as if having a heart made of stone.
- unsympatheticNot sympathetic; ill-disposed.
- unmovedNot sympathetic; uncaring.
Meaning of tough
- adjective Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.
- adjective Of food, difficult to cut or chew.
- adjective Of a person or animal, rugged or physically hardy.
tough in other languages
Questions about synonyms of tough
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: tough (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of tough.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/tough. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.