tough
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: tuff
Meaning · English
Used to indicate lack of sympathy
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
If you don't like it, tough!
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “tough” mean?
Used to indicate lack of sympathy
Is “tough” formal or informal?
tough is generally slang.