Standard Lemma guide

toughness

noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: T AH1 F N AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being tough.

Resistance to fracture when stressed, or the degree of such resistance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: materials science

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The state of being tough.

Fortitude; hardiness; mettle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: psychologically; emotionally; or biologically; psychologically; emotionally; or biologically

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A formidable difficulty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

impressive difficulty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: formidability

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: difficulty, difficultness

5

noun

Meaning 5

the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: temper

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: elasticity, snap

6

noun

Meaning 6

the property of being big and strong

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: huskiness, ruggedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: strength

7

noun

Meaning 7

enduring strength and energy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stamina, staying power

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: endurance

Narrower terms: legs

History

Etymology

From Middle English toughnesse, towghnesse, towghenesse, equivalent to tough + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: твърдост (tvǎrdost) — state of being tough
  • Finnish: sitkeys — state of being tough
  • Finnish: ankaruus — state of being tough
  • Finnish: kovuus — state of being tough
  • French: solidité — state of being tough
  • French: dureté — state of being tough
  • French: endurance — state of being tough
  • German: Zähigkeit — state of being tough
  • Italian: robustezza — state of being tough
  • Romanian: tenacitate — state of being tough