Meanings
plural toughnesses
- The state of being tough.
- countableuncountablematerials sciencenatural sciencesResistance to fracture when stressed, or the degree of such resistance.
Synonyms: steel
- countableuncountableA formidable difficulty.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounResistance to fracture when stressed, or the degree of such resistance.
nounFortitude; hardiness; mettle.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishtoughnesse
- Englishtoughness
From Middle English toughnesse, towghnesse, towghenesse, equivalent to tough + -ness.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian твърдост
- твърдост (tvărdost)state of being tough
Finnish sitkeys, ankaruus
- sitkeysstate of being tough
- ankaruusstate of being tough
- kovuusstate of being tough
French solidité, dureté
- soliditéstate of being tough
- duretéstate of being tough
- endurancestate of being tough
German Zähigkeit
- Zähigkeitstate of being tough
Italian robustezza
- robustezzastate of being tough
Romanian tenacitate
- tenacitatestate of being tough
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
toughness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toughness
“toughness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toughness. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “toughness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toughness.
Source: toughness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.