Tough example sentences

Related (15): difficult, hard, challenging, resilient, strong, strict, rigid, durable, demanding, severe, harsh, rugged, sturdy, adversity, hardship

"Tough" Example Sentences

  1. The first year of marriage was tough, but we made it through.
  2. She's got a tough exterior, but underneath she's actually pretty soft.
  3. Honestly, this job is way tougher than I expected when I started.
  4. My dad always said that tough times don't last, but tough people do.
  5. The interview questions were surprisingly tough — I wasn't prepared for that.
  6. He gave me a tough look when I told him I was quitting.
  7. It's been a tough week, and I just want to sleep for three days straight.
  8. That's a tough call to make, and I don't envy whoever has to decide.
  9. Growing up in that neighborhood made her tough in ways most people never understand.
  10. The coach was tough on us, but looking back, that's what made us better.
  11. Tough luck — the flight got cancelled and now you're stuck here.
  12. I know it sounds tough, but sometimes you just have to let people fail.
  13. She's tougher than she looks, trust me on that one.
  14. The economy has been tough on small businesses this year.
  15. He walked away from the accident without a scratch — tough guy.
  16. Being a single parent is tough work, and nobody gives you enough credit for it.
  17. The rules are tough, but they exist for a reason.
  18. After everything she's been through, she's become incredibly tough.
  19. That's a tough situation to be in, and I'm sorry you're dealing with it.
  20. The competition was tough, but we still managed to win.
  21. Tough love is what he needed, even if he didn't want to hear it.
  22. The meat was way too tough to chew — I sent it back.
  23. Life gets tough sometimes, and that's just how it goes.
  24. She gave him a tough choice: stay or leave, but decide now.
  25. The material is tough enough to last for years without tearing.
  26. He's got a tough reputation, but I've never seen him be mean to anyone.
  27. This problem is tougher than it looks on the surface.
  28. When things get tough, that's when you find out who your real friends are.
  29. The negotiations were tough, but we finally reached an agreement.
  30. I admire how tough she is about her own mistakes — never makes excuses.

Common Phrases

  1. tough luck
  2. tough love
  3. tough it out
  4. tough as nails
  5. tough call
  6. tough times
  7. tough break
  8. tough crowd
  9. tough spot
  10. when the going gets tough
  11. tough on someone
  12. tough enough

Examples by Level

A1
  1. This is tough work.
  2. The tough man didn't cry.
A2
  1. It was tough for her to leave her family behind.
  2. The teacher was tough but fair with all the students.
B1
  1. Times have been tough lately, but we're managing okay.
  2. He's got a tough exterior, but he's actually really kind underneath.
B2
  1. The decision was tough because both options had serious consequences.
  2. She'd learned to be tough through years of facing rejection and disappointment.
C1
  1. What makes a person tough isn't their ability to endure pain, but their willingness to keep moving forward despite it.
  2. The market conditions proved tough for even the most established companies, forcing them to reconsider their entire strategy.
C2
  1. There's a particular kind of toughness that comes not from hardness, but from the quiet acceptance that some things simply cannot be changed.
  2. She understood that being tough meant knowing when to hold firm and when to bend — a distinction most people never quite master.

Examples by Scenario

🏠 Everyday Life
  1. My neighbor's dog is tough and won't back down from anything, even other dogs twice his size.
  2. The weather's been tough this week — rain every single day.
💼 Workplace
  1. Our manager is tough on deadlines, but everyone respects her for being consistent.
  2. The new project is going to be tough, and we're going to need everyone's best effort.
📊 Business
  1. The market conditions have been tough for retailers, especially in the downtown area.
  2. Our competitors are tough, but we've got a better product and we know it.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
  1. This fabric is supposed to be tough and stain-resistant, which is exactly what I need.
  2. The prices are tough to swallow, but the quality is worth it.
✈️ Travel
  1. Traveling with kids is tough, but we're determined to show them the world anyway.
  2. The altitude made the hike tougher than I expected, and I had to turn back.
📚 Education
  1. The professor is tough grader, but students say they actually learn more in her class.
  2. High school was tough for him, but he's thriving in college now.
❤️ Relationships
  1. We had a tough conversation last night about where we're headed, and it needed to happen.
  2. Breaking up was the toughest thing I've ever done, even though it was the right call.
📰 News / Politics
  1. The government's tough stance on immigration has divided the country.
  2. Economic conditions have been tough on working families across the region.
💻 Technology
  1. The new encryption is supposed to be tough to crack, even for experienced hackers.
  2. Tough security measures mean the app takes longer to load, but it's worth the trade-off.
📝 Formal Writing
  1. The study found that tough parenting styles did not necessarily produce better outcomes in academic achievement.
  2. Regulations governing workplace safety have become increasingly tough over the past decade.

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