: the quality or state of being tough: such as
a
: the quality of being strong and not easily broken, torn, etc.
This combination of strength and ductility makes spider silk extremely tough, matching the toughness of state-of-the-art carbon fibers such as Kevlar.—
MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review
also
: the quality of being difficult to cut or chew
… the extreme toughness of the beef … , which rendered it quite unfit … for any human consumption. —Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
b
: physical or emotional strength that allows someone to endure strain or hardship
Henin-Hardenne's unshakable mental toughness—she says one of her great joys in life is staving off a break point in a tight match—makes her all the more formidable.—L. Jon Wertheim
L. Jon Wertheim
c
: the quality of being severe or uncompromising
the toughness of the new sentencing guidelines
his toughness as a negotiator
The Minnesota senator referenced the story during her campaign to showcase her toughness on crime.—Summer Concepcion and Matt Shuham
Summer Concepcion and Matt ShuhamBesides teaching us how to hit with pads [in football], [Sister] Paulinus instructed us in English, history, and the love of God, with a distinctive combination of toughness and good humor.—Luke Timothy Johnson
Luke Timothy Johnson
d
: the quality of being difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with
the toughness of life in prison
the toughness of these decisions
After an appearance on British television, he is almost giddy at the toughness of the questions he faced.—A. O. Scott
A. O. ScottJust spritz on some Dawn Power Dissolver, wait 15 to 30 minutes depending on the toughness of the job, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.—Cook's Illustrated
Cook's IllustratedExamples of toughness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its leather jackets became a cultural symbol in the ’90s and 2000s — worn by legends like Biggie and Dipset — representing pride, toughness, and self-expression.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
But that's not an excuse for a lack of toughness.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The fabric still provides the same weatherproofing but with a bit of extra toughness for holding up to the type of extreme conditions for which the Mavericks was conceived.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Mizzou has talented transfers, too This offseason, Gates emphasized adding depth and toughness to an already experienced roster.
—Ally Schniepp, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2025
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Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
But that's not an excuse for a lack of toughness.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The fabric still provides the same weatherproofing but with a bit of extra toughness for holding up to the type of extreme conditions for which the Mavericks was conceived.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Mizzou has talented transfers, too This offseason, Gates emphasized adding depth and toughness to an already experienced roster.
—Ally Schniepp, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for toughness
Cite this Entry
“Toughness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toughness. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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