Synonyms for Tough (same or very similar meaning)
WordNet sense 1 (someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing):
street fighter
WordNet sense 2 (an aggressive and violent young criminal):
goon, hood, hoodlum, punk, thug, toughie, strong-armer
WordNet sense 3 (a cruel and brutal fellow):
bully, hooligan, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, yob, yobbo, yobo
WordNet sense 4 (violent and lawless):
ruffianly
WordNet sense 5 (acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity):
violent
WordNet sense 6 (tough and callous by virtue of experience):
pugnacious
WordNet sense 7 (made tough by habitual exposure):
hardened
WordNet sense 8 (having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear):
callous
WordNet sense 9 (physically toughened):
toughened
WordNet sense 10 (having undesirable or negative qualities):
bad
WordNet sense 11 (making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe):
baffling, knotty, problematic, problematical
WordNet sense 12 (not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure):
difficult, hard
WordNet sense 13 (substantially made or constructed):
sturdy
WordNet sense 14 (sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring):
rugged, rugged
WordNet sense 15 (providing or experiencing physical discomfort):
uncomfortable
From the ODE community, based on WordNet
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