toughness
Toughness (noun) means the quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage. Example: “Engineers tested the toughness of the new alloy.”
noun
1
The quality of being resistant to breaking, wear, or damage.
"Engineers tested the toughness of the new alloy."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishThe quality of being strong, resilient, or able to endure hardship.
Common pairings
mental toughness
test the toughness of
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Word forms
- Plural
- toughnesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Engineers tested the _____ of the new alloy.
Etymology
Formed from tough plus the noun-forming suffix -ness.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for toughness
See all rhymes for toughness →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.
