How to Use tough in a Sentence
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Last year was a tough time to be a kid in the District.
—Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
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There are so many things, and there are some that are so tough.
—Hemal Jhaveri, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024
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Mary’s kind of rough and tough, and has this soulful voice.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Mar. 2024
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The rind should be so tough that your fingernail cannot dent it.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2023
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The slightly distressed leather boots are tough but light.
—Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2023
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But Penix faced a tougher defense (Boise State) than the others and fired missiles all over the field.
—Jon Wilner | , oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2023
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Brennan said afterward that both plays were tough because of the way the sky looked at the time.
—Joe Noga, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2023
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The synthetic sole is tough and designed to last through day-to-day wear.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 16 Oct. 2023
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Raised me with tough fatherly love and an even tougher hand.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
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The year before these thoughts began, things were tough for my siblings and me.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2023
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To not meet with them and find out what their concerns are and to answer their tough questions?
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 30 Nov. 2023
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To target tough spots, read these tips for oven cleaning.
—Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2023
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Gone was the deer-in-the-headlights gaze from some of the toughest losses of Ewers’ first season in Austin.
—Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Dec. 2023
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She’s been hit with hot flashes and cold spells, headaches, and cramping, which is tough to train through.
—Christine Yu, SELF, 4 Oct. 2023
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That creates a type of person that is so tough and so gritty.
—oregonlive, 17 July 2023
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Your friend might have good days and tougher days — or mornings might be better for her than evenings.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 28 May 2023
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Gerrit Cole was Gerrit Cole, which is so tough to hit, so good.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2023
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So exciting, but it's been tough to keep a secret for all this time.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
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There’s no doubt the state’s reputation as a tough place to do business doesn’t help.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
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Jess considers the reasons why its growth has been tough.
—Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Apr. 2023
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Salvatore Filmes took on the financing of the film – tough in Brazil as finance has proved thin on the ground over the last few years.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 22 Dec. 2023
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The sunsetting of Launch With GS comes in a tough market for founders and emerging managers.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024
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Rumors of the Grapevine’s demise have been swirling since then, and Michelle credits the customers and staff for keeping the bar alive during tough times.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 18 Aug. 2023
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The consensus seems to be that where the next mass shooting will happen is tough to predict.
—The Courier-Journal, 16 Apr. 2023
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Become a Subscriber That thought might be tough to square with bats’ recent track record.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2023
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But Mahomes’ temper got the best of him during a couple of tough games at the end of the regular season.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024
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The book was published during a really tough moment for of us.
—Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
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The list is underrated rappers could fill the Grand Canyon, so that’s a tough question to answer.
—Spin Staff, Spin, 21 Sep. 2023
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Compared to popular gamefish like bass, walleyes, crappies, and trout, northern pike have much tougher mouths.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 18 Apr. 2024
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Again, making technology do the heavy lifting is a great way to get the tough job of budgeting done without even thinking about it.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024
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The Lancers hung tough against the Beavers and led 45-39 at halftime.
—oregonlive, 17 Nov. 2021
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The cold air hangs tough over the area, with highs mainly in the lower 40s.
—David Streit, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2018
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The Celtics hung tough in Game 1, leading by 12 in the first half, but succumbed.
—BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2021
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Floyd was caught in the grips of America’s tough-on-crime era.
—Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2020
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Dias, known for his no-nonsense/ tough-talking style, has led the union for nine years.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 17 Feb. 2022
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Might find things tough now the element of surprise is gone.
—Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, 22 May 2018
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Springer, a tough-looking Kiwi with a salt-and-pepper beard, was one of the managers of the program.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2021
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Yo influence has entered the people’s veins so tough back at home and across the world.
—Rasha Ali, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2020
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Plus, of course, those drawn to such a tough-looking truck for lifestyle reasons.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 1 July 2020
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But, in the meantime, maybe tough-on-crime politicians should stop blaming the victim.
—Erika D. Smithcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2022
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The Lady Bowmen have been playing tough so far this fall.
—oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2022
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The cast that Ferrante put on the floor reacted to a tough-hitting Raiders squad, which is now 2-2 on the season.
—Mike Morea, baltimoresun.com, 15 Mar. 2021
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Joe Biden’s decades-old support for tough-on-crime measures like the 1994 crime bill now earns him wrath from those among the far Left.
—Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, 17 June 2020
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Much of his final year focused on a replay of Richard Nixon's tough-on-crime rhetoric.
—Julian Zelizer, CNN, 23 June 2021
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Meanwhile, Biden was passing the 1994 bill that furthered the era's tough-on-crime policies.
—Kathleen Ronayne, Star Tribune, 31 July 2020
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By the 1990s, both major parties had adopted tough-on-crime stances.
—Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2020
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The Blazers hung tough in the first quarter, falling behind 34-29.
—oregonlive, 27 Dec. 2021
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The activists rejected putting the pain of survivors at the service of tough-on-crime policies.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
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Has a lot of talent, can make all the throws, terrific arm, tough, he’s taken some hits and hangs in there.
—Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 22 Oct. 2019
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Atlanta hung tough without Young against the Raptors but couldn’t come up with the critical plays down the stretch.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 4 Feb. 2022
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Kids were obsessed and viewed McCurdy as their own tough-as-nails best friend.
—Ashley Spencer, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
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Harris played tough but lost another one-on-one late in the fourth quarter.
—Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 28 Dec. 2020
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The film begins in Vietnam in the 1990s, when Moody (Jackson) comes upon a bloodbath, with a bunch of tough-looking sorts shot to death.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2021
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In response, many Democrats are touting their own tough-on-crime message.
—Time, 3 Nov. 2022
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Mutzbauer works with a main line on his bosun’s chair and a backup line on his full-body harness, each rope tough enough to take up to 7,000 pounds of force.
—René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 3 Dec. 2019
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Will Cortez Masto’s tough-on-crime credentials be enough to return her to the Senate?
—Paul Begala, CNN, 19 Oct. 2022
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So what is this tough-talking governor going to do about it?
—Steve Bousquet, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Oct. 2021
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In its message to members, the WGA urged writers to hang tough together despite the hardships that may come with a strike.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 May 2023
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That made getting information in the bond market tough even for traders.
—Stephen Gandel, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2020
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Meanwhile, Bishop Fenwick’s guards will have to hang tough against a daunting Spartan backcourt.
—Trevor Hass, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023
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An immaculate white convertible — the BMW of its day — and well out of the reach of a pack of teenage Orange toughs.
—Longreads, 16 June 2018
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Buddhist toughs threatened taxi drivers and merchants from Kargil, telling them they weren’t allowed to work in Leh.
—Suhasini Raj and Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2017
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Temple toughs threatened Kinsolving’s bosses and the series was cut.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2018
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Overcharging the group seemed like a political move to boost his reelection as a tough on crime prosecutor.
—Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2019
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The fish has a tough, albeit flexible, inner layer bound by collagen to mineralize the outer layer of scales.
—Fox News, 18 Oct. 2019
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They weren't strong enough to fight Sankoh and his hopped-up young toughs, who number in the thousands.
—Tom Masland Et Al., Newsweek, 15 May 2000
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One night, after antagonizing a gang of older toughs, he had his face smashed in with a hockey stick.
—John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
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These teams — there are precisely two in the series, vaguely rivalrous, unequally enlightened — are the tough who get going when the going gets too tough for the ordinary weapons and tactics of ordinary police officers.
—Robert Lloyd, latimes.com, 2 Nov. 2017
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Gebhardt and his brother-in-law were laborers at a pulp mill, but had reputations as toughs with nasty, racist streaks — and rap sheets: Gebhardt had been charged with aggravated assault several times and had spent time in a Georgia penitentiary.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 27 June 2018
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Martinez-Valdez, prosecutors say, was a street tough who earned a lucrative living by stepping into the sophisticated economic crime.
—David Ovalle, miamiherald, 12 Jan. 2018
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The subways provided fine service, except that lately there had been a problem. Packs of young toughs had taken to roaming the cars.
—Tom Wolf, Harper's, November 1989
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An immaculate white convertible — the BMW of its day — and well out of the reach of a pack of teenage Orange toughs.
—Longreads, 16 June 2018
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Buddhist toughs threatened taxi drivers and merchants from Kargil, telling them they weren’t allowed to work in Leh.
—Suhasini Raj and Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2017
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Temple toughs threatened Kinsolving’s bosses and the series was cut.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2018
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Overcharging the group seemed like a political move to boost his reelection as a tough on crime prosecutor.
—Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2019
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The fish has a tough, albeit flexible, inner layer bound by collagen to mineralize the outer layer of scales.
—Fox News, 18 Oct. 2019
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They weren't strong enough to fight Sankoh and his hopped-up young toughs, who number in the thousands.
—Tom Masland Et Al., Newsweek, 15 May 2000
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One night, after antagonizing a gang of older toughs, he had his face smashed in with a hockey stick.
—John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
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These teams — there are precisely two in the series, vaguely rivalrous, unequally enlightened — are the tough who get going when the going gets too tough for the ordinary weapons and tactics of ordinary police officers.
—Robert Lloyd, latimes.com, 2 Nov. 2017
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Gebhardt and his brother-in-law were laborers at a pulp mill, but had reputations as toughs with nasty, racist streaks — and rap sheets: Gebhardt had been charged with aggravated assault several times and had spent time in a Georgia penitentiary.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 27 June 2018
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Martinez-Valdez, prosecutors say, was a street tough who earned a lucrative living by stepping into the sophisticated economic crime.
—David Ovalle, miamiherald, 12 Jan. 2018
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The subways provided fine service, except that lately there had been a problem. Packs of young toughs had taken to roaming the cars.
—Tom Wolf, Harper's, November 1989
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An immaculate white convertible — the BMW of its day — and well out of the reach of a pack of teenage Orange toughs.
—Longreads, 16 June 2018
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Buddhist toughs threatened taxi drivers and merchants from Kargil, telling them they weren’t allowed to work in Leh.
—Suhasini Raj and Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2017
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Temple toughs threatened Kinsolving’s bosses and the series was cut.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2018
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Overcharging the group seemed like a political move to boost his reelection as a tough on crime prosecutor.
—Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2019
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The fish has a tough, albeit flexible, inner layer bound by collagen to mineralize the outer layer of scales.
—Fox News, 18 Oct. 2019
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They weren't strong enough to fight Sankoh and his hopped-up young toughs, who number in the thousands.
—Tom Masland Et Al., Newsweek, 15 May 2000
-
One night, after antagonizing a gang of older toughs, he had his face smashed in with a hockey stick.
—John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
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These teams — there are precisely two in the series, vaguely rivalrous, unequally enlightened — are the tough who get going when the going gets too tough for the ordinary weapons and tactics of ordinary police officers.
—Robert Lloyd, latimes.com, 2 Nov. 2017
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Most people will tough it out on the couch like the flu.
—Anne Saker, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2020
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Just toughing it out with over-the-counter cold-and-cough stuff.
—Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, 15 Dec. 2019
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But now is not the time to silently tough it out, or to go dark.
—Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2020
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The Colts were out-toughing the Titans, simple as that.
—Zak Keefer, Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2017
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Perhaps the Norse could have toughed it out in Greenland by fully adopting the ways of the Inuit.
—Tim Folger, Smithsonian, 29 Mar. 2017
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My style was to tough it out, which earned me great praise for strength, dignity, blah blah blah.
—Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2021
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Then came the Cup Series, where the kid toughed it out for 132 races without a victory.
—George Diaz, OrlandoSentinel.com, 29 May 2017
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But Moore toughed it out and made a final-round run that was fast enough for ninth in the overall title race.
—Brett Hoffman, star-telegram, 27 Jan. 2018
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Dead serious, caught a migraine, but just had to tough it out.
—Edgar Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 7 Oct. 2019
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According to Dorram, the hardest part of the roots look is toughing out the urge to color back over them.
—Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, 17 July 2017
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The second shot was nearly an exact repeat with the hole toughing the first, ditto on the third shot.
—Outdoor Life, 21 Jan. 2020
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Warner said about half the 1,000 residents of Ocracoke chose to tough it out.
—Ben Finley, The Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2019
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In tune with that idea, Aje offers a heart-rending depiction of a child trying to tough his way through pain.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 30 May 2022
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En route to exploring his options, O’Neal opted to tough it out at A&M.
—Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Nov. 2021
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Most people will try to tough it out with more over-the-counter medications, eye drops and nasal sprays, Portnoy said.
—Kelsey Ryan, kansascity, 19 June 2018
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The English won their only previous two World Cup matchups, although both had to be toughed out.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2019
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The more both sides harden their resolve to tough it out, the greater the pressure on companies to hedge their bets on China and move elsewhere.
—Gwynn Guilford, Quartz, 14 June 2019
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The upcoming road trip will tough on Fox The next three opponents all present challenges for Fox, as the Kings’ only healthy point guard.
—Jason Jones, sacbee, 9 Feb. 2018
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The most impressive macro factor throughout is that Philly was never out-worked or out-toughed.
—Jeremy Woo, SI.com, 24 Apr. 2018
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Mom, Dad and their younger daughter try to tough out a dinner to which their pastor has invited himself and his wife.
—Daryl H. Miller, latimes.com, 23 Mar. 2018
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Unfortunately, the people who tough it out and open up a gallery are the true believers.
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2018
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As spores, fungi can tough out adverse conditions and drift thousands of miles in the wind to find more livable settings.
—Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2012
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And what keeps the city ticking is its dedicated network of promoters and DJs, who tough out the laws to deliver a good time.
—Jack Tregoning, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2020
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And while many parents assume that middle school is a rite of passage that kids need to stoically tough out, the opposite could not be more true.
—Sarah Molano, CNN, 10 Aug. 2021
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The family toughed it out Friday night in hoodies and extra layers of blankets.
—Meredith Cohn, baltimoresun.com, 6 Mar. 2018
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Texans are a gritty people who believe in toughing it out no matter what’s thrown our way.
—Karl Rove, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2017
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Even starting pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx, who was tagged with five runs on six hits, including two home runs in the first three innings, toughed it out to go six and keep the Rangers within 5-2.
—Stefan Stevenson, star-telegram, 3 July 2018
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In both games, the senior transfer steadied a wobbly offense, and toughed out yardage while his quarterback, Wilton Speight, struggled to find his range.
—Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2017
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The initiative failed, Coaxum says, because SF Global didn’t have the funding to tough out the lengthy municipal process.
—Kristin Stoller, Forbes, 18 June 2021
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But others pivoted and parried, managing to tough it out.
—Mara Severin, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Dec. 2022
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tough.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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