tough cookie

noun

: a person who is physically and emotionally strong
Don't worry about her—she's a tough cookie.

Examples of tough cookie in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Denise Richards is one tough cookie, and she's got the battle scars to prove it. — Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 Coach Ali is 36 now, having grown up into a tough cookie who cries a lot. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025 Renovating well is a combination of being a great improviser and a tough cookie—yet another reason why having a great mood board up front helps. — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025 Purdue may be a tough cookie to crack after allowing just 17 points itself so far this term, all of which came in last week's 34-17 win over Southern Illinois. — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025 The Hike is a tough cookie too, having been torture tested for water and dust resistance, vibration and shock, extreme temperatures, humidity, altitude and more. — New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2025 Or will Houston again have to turn to the serviceable floor of Holiday, who has clear limitations but is a good shooter himself and a tough cookie on defense, and leave Sheppard at the end of the bench for another year? — John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for tough cookie

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Browse Nearby Words

tough check
tough cookie
toughen
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Cite this Entry

“Tough cookie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough%20cookie. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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