Thesaurus results for TOUGHIE

toughie

noun

ˈtə-fē

variants also toughy

Definition of toughie

as in thug

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang after numerous suspensions, the school toughies were finally expelled for gang activities on campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of toughie Other toughies are at the not-so-soft Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, the revenge trip to New England in Week 15 and the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Week 17. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 And special days call for special grids, such as this set of six toughies that were originally shelved but have remained in our hearts. — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025 Extra time may be spent looking for that toughie that was present just a few days ago. — Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, 15 Dec. 2017 Another cold-weather toughie is Alaska's red flat bark beetle, which, under lab conditions, can survive cooling down to minus 238 degrees Fahrenheit. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, 10 Dec. 2016 The surprises come from Rachel McAdams, who holds her own as a wise-cracking toughie, and PeÃ±a, who defrosts from macho pride mode with low-key grace. — Hugh Hart, WIRED, 29 Oct. 2008

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toughie

Noun

The eponymous former assassin is drawn back into the game after some thugs (led by Alfie Allen) kill his dog and royally piss him off.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Tae-ha’s mom left him after Sang-gil, who was also a boxer prior to becoming a thug, cheated in a match.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of thug

Noun

And Susan Collins, as Democrats have seen time and time again, is a real tough out.

— NBC news, NBC news, 21 June 2026
In that version, the character is played by Joe Don Baker, the great character actor known for playing toughs in films like Walking Tall (1973) and Fletch (1985).

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026

Definition of tough

Noun

Hailing from London as the son of hardscrabble fruit sellers, Winstone was often asked to channel his rough-and-tumble upbringing and pre-acting career as a boxer into mobster and villain roles.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
Standing in his way is a mysterious villain intent on his destruction.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of villain

Noun

One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its characters’ profound self-consciousness about the place of the gangster in American culture.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Related Stories The story follows Robbie, whose parents were murdered at the hands of notorious gangster Franz Müller in the 90s.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of gangster

Noun

Analysts warn each ransom payment fuels more crime as armed groups, from rural bandits to Islamist militants, raid schools, mosques and villages, with an average of 21 kidnappings reported daily.

— Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
The Brigands of Rattlecreek follows a sheriff and a doctor who seek revenge against a group of bandits who use the cover of a torrential thunderstorm to rob and terrorize the occupants of a small town.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of bandit

Noun

Making everyone a potential spy or assassin was only an expedient way to destroy institutions internally and externally through financial incentives.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Skirting bravely around the edges of space to seek solace, they’re hunted by the Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a deadly Alliance assassin on a mission who seeks to recapture her.

— Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of assassin

Noun

Speaking of singing pirates, Curry clearly fancied these kinds of roles, signing on to play the villainous Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Brian Henson’s musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
That is up from Politico’s report that Somali pirates had seized at least three tankers carrying oil and fertilizer since April, while a chemical-carrying ship was hijacked off Yemen in July.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of pirate

Browse Nearby Words

toughens

toughie

toughies

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“Toughie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toughie. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of toughie

noun

Example Sentences

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