tough-minded

adjective

tough-mind·​ed ˈtəf-ˌmīn-dəd How to pronounce tough-minded (audio)
Synonyms of tough-mindednext
: realistic or unsentimental in temper or outlook
tough-minded survivors
tough-mindedness noun

Examples of tough-minded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
His dad was a very, very tough-minded person. — Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025 Lucas is a tough-minded old buzzard. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 June 2026 Those are two tough-minded veterans. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 June 2026 The number of ambiguous, tough-minded docs may be dwindling, but the tools to repair a broken world are growing. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tough-minded

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tough-minded was in 1907

Rhymes for tough-minded

See All Rhymes for tough-minded

Browse Nearby Words

toughly
tough-minded
tough-mindedness
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Cite this Entry

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tough-minded. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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