toughness
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the ability to deal with pain, difficulty, or hardship without giving up.
the quality of being strong enough to endure hardship or strain; psychological resilience or physical stamina.
Simple“The marathon runner showed incredible toughness by finishing the race with a hurt leg.”
In context“The candidate's mental toughness was tested during the grueling three-day interview process designed to simulate high-pressure environments.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the quality of being strong and difficult to break or tear.
the ability of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically without fracturing.
Simple“The toughness of the leather makes it perfect for heavy-duty work boots.”
In context“Engineers selected this specific alloy for its exceptional fracture toughness, ensuring the bridge could withstand extreme thermal expansion.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the general property of a material.
SynonymsdurabilitysturdinessAntonymsbrittleness - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being very strict or firm about rules and behavior.
the quality of being uncompromising or severe in the enforcement of standards or discipline.
Simple“The coach is known for his toughness, but his players always improve.”
In context“The administration's toughness on budget deficits led to significant cuts in public spending across all departments.”
“Aspergillus niger was one of five microbes, including bacteria and fungi, selected for this study because of its known toughness in spaceflight environments.”
“The scene was as much about showing Rocky’s toughness as it was about making a protein-rich drink to become stronger.”
From Middle English toughnesse, towghnesse, towghenesse, equivalent to tough + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.