noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

toughness

Toughness (noun) means the quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage. Example: “Engineers tested the toughness of the new alloy.”

noun

The quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage.

"Engineers tested the toughness of the new alloy."

Mental or physical resilience; the ability to endure hardship.

"It takes real toughness to run a marathon in that heat."

How to use toughness

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe quality of being strong, resilient, or able to endure hardship.

Common pairings

mental toughness test the toughness of

Word forms

toughnesses plural

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Engineers tested the _____ of the new alloy.

Etymology

Formed from tough plus the noun-forming suffix -ness.

Synonyms

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temper stamina huskiness ruggedness staying power formidability

Related words

mood rage temper endurance longevity mitigate harden irritation

Rhymes for toughness

roughness

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Frequently asked questions

What does “toughness” mean?

The word “toughness” means the quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage. In plain terms, the quality of being strong, resilient, or able to endure hardship.

How do you use “toughness” in a sentence?

Here is “toughness” used in a sentence: “Engineers tested the toughness of the new alloy.”

What part of speech is “toughness”?

“Toughness” is a noun.

Is “toughness” a common word?

“Toughness” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “toughness” have?

“Toughness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage.

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