toughness
toughness Lexical Profile
toughness Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The quality of being physically or mentally strong, resilient, and able to endure hardship, pain, or adversity without yielding.
"Completing the ultramarathon required as much mental toughness as physical stamina."
The ability of a material, object, or substance to absorb energy, deform plastically, and resist breaking, tearing, or fracturing under stress.
"Engineers tested the alloy's fracture toughness under extreme subzero temperatures."
Strictness, severity, or an uncompromising attitude in policy, negotiation, or enforcement.
"The mayor's reputation for toughness at the bargaining table helped secure a favorable contract for the city."
The state or quality of food, especially meat, being dense, fibrous, and difficult to cut or chew.
"Marinating the steak overnight in an acidic sauce helped reduce its toughness before grilling."
• Rhymes for toughness
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English tōhnes, derived from the adjective tōh ('tough, tenacious, or sticky') combined with the noun-forming suffix -nes.