toughness
gb/tˈʌfnəs/ us/tˈʌfnəs/
B2
English
lelki erő, szívósság, strapabíróság, rágósság, kemény fellépés, keménység
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
the toughness to do [something]; toughness in the face of [something]
She showed real toughness when she lost her job and still kept going.
Igazi lelki erőt mutatott, amikor elvesztette az állását, és mégis kitartott.
The team’s toughness was obvious in the final minutes of the game.
A csapat lelki ereje a meccs utolsó perceiben egyértelműen látszott.
It takes toughness to admit you were wrong and try again.
Learner examples
You need toughness to finish the course.
Lelki erő kell ahhoz, hogy végigcsináld a tanfolyamot.
His toughness helped him stay calm.
A lelki ereje segített neki nyugodtnak maradni.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse toughness (strength of character) with hardness (physical hard surface).
Meaning
mental strength under stress
Collocations
mental toughness
|emotional toughness
|inner toughness
|sheer toughness
|remarkable toughness
|toughness under pressure
|show toughness
|develop toughness
|lack toughness
|a test of toughness
Synonyms
resilience (focuses on recovering after difficulty)
|
grit (emphasizes long-term perseverance)
|
fortitude (more formal; bravery in suffering)
Antonyms
fragility (easily hurt or upset by difficulty)
|
weakness (lack of strength or resolve in challenges)
Themes
emotions
|personal_growth
|sports
|work
Definition
being strong and not giving up when life is hard
The ability to stay strong, calm, and determined in difficult or stressful situations.
NOUN
B2
2
szívósság
C1
Usage pattern:
the toughness of [material/object]
The toughness of this phone case protects it from drops.
Ennek a telefontoknak a strapabírósága védelmet nyújt eséskor.
Engineers increased the toughness of the alloy to prevent cracking.
A mérnökök növelték az ötvözet szívósságát, hogy megelőzzék a repedezést.
This backpack’s toughness makes it ideal for travel.
Learner examples
This material has good toughness.
Ennek az anyagnak jó a strapabírósága.
The box needs more toughness.
Ennek a doboznak strapabíróbbnak kell lennie.
Common mistake:
Toughness is not exactly the same as hardness; something can be hard but still break easily.
Meaning
resistance to damage or breaking
Collocations
material toughness
|surface toughness
|added toughness
|high toughness
|improved toughness
|toughness and durability
|toughness against scratches
|toughness of the fabric
|toughness of the plastic
|impact toughness
Synonyms
durability (emphasizes lasting a long time under use)
|
sturdiness (everyday word for being strongly built)
|
strength (more general; not specific to resisting damage)
Antonyms
brittleness (tends to crack or snap under stress)
|
delicacy (easily damaged; needing careful handling)
Themes
daily_life
|materials
|construction
Definition
being strong and not easily damaged
The quality of being strong and able to withstand force, wear, or damage without breaking.
NOUN
B2
3
rágósság
B2
Usage pattern:
the toughness of [food]
The toughness of the steak made it hard to enjoy.
A steak rágóssága miatt nehéz volt élvezni.
Overcooking increases the toughness of chicken breast.
A túlsütés növeli a csirkemell rágósságát.
I tried to fix the toughness by slicing it very thin.
Learner examples
The meat had a lot of toughness.
A hús nagyon rágós volt.
This steak is too tough.
Ez a steak túl rágós.
Common mistake:
In food contexts, toughness is negative (not ‘strong’ in a good way).
Meaning
chewy, hard-to-eat quality
Collocations
meat toughness
|the toughness of the steak
|reduce toughness
|unpleasant toughness
|toughness in the chicken
|toughness of the crust
|too much toughness
|toughness after overcooking
|noticeable toughness
|toughness and dryness
Synonyms
chewiness (can be neutral or positive in some foods; less negative than toughness)
|
stringiness (meat has fibers that pull apart in strings)
Antonyms
tenderness (easy to chew; desirable for meat)
|
softness (general lack of firmness or resistance)
Themes
food
|daily_life
Definition
when food is too hard to chew
The unpleasant quality of being hard to chew, cut, or bite through, especially in meat or bread.
NOUN
C1
4
keménység
B1
Usage pattern:
toughness on [issue]; toughness in [negotiations/leadership]
The manager’s toughness helped the team meet the deadline.
A vezető keménysége segített a csapatnak tartani a határidőt.
Voters responded to his toughness on corruption.
A választók pozitívan reagáltak a korrupcióval szembeni kemény fellépésére.
Her toughness in negotiations surprised the suppliers.
Learner examples
The coach’s toughness pushed us to work hard.
Az edző keménysége arra ösztönzött minket, hogy keményen dolgozzunk.
They wanted toughness in the new leader.
Keménységet akartak látni az új vezetőben.
Common mistake:
Toughness can sound positive (decisive) or negative (too harsh) depending on context.
Meaning
strict, uncompromising attitude
Collocations
project toughness
|display toughness
|political toughness
|toughness on crime
|toughness in negotiations
|a show of toughness
|unnecessary toughness
|toughness and discipline
|toughness with staff
|toughness toward rivals
Synonyms
firmness (more neutral; suggests steadiness rather than harshness)
|
severity (more negative; emphasizes harsh punishment or strictness)
Antonyms
leniency (willingness to be less strict or to forgive)
|
softness (lack of strictness or force in approach)
Themes
business
|politics
|relationships
Definition
being very strict and not giving in easily
A forceful, hard, or uncompromising approach, especially in leadership, negotiations, or policy.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
szívósság
C1
Usage pattern:
toughness of [material]; measure toughness
The report compares the toughness of several composite materials.
A jelentés több kompozit anyag szívósságát hasonlítja össze.
Heat treatment can improve toughness while maintaining strength.
A hőkezelés javíthatja a szívósságot a szilárdság megőrzése mellett.
Engineers tested the sample’s toughness at low temperatures.
Common mistake:
In technical use, toughness is distinct from hardness and strength and is measured by specific tests.
Meaning
engineering measure of crack resistance
Collocations
fracture toughness
|impact toughness
|toughness value
|toughness testing
|toughness measurement
|increase toughness
|toughness of the alloy
|high-toughness steel
|toughness and ductility
|crack resistance
Synonyms
fracture resistance (emphasizes resisting cracks; close technical paraphrase)
Antonyms
brittleness (tendency to fracture with little deformation or energy absorption)
Themes
engineering
|materials
|science
Definition
(technical) how well a material resists breaking
In engineering and materials science, the ability of a material to absorb energy and resist cracking or fracturing, often measured under specified test conditions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
toughness
IPA
GB/tˈʌfnəs/
US/tˈʌfnəs/
Syllables & stress
tough - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tough)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: toughness
- Plural: toughness, toughnesses
Expressions
fracture toughness
1/fɹˈækt͡ʃɚ tˈʌfnəs/
fixed phrase
technical
material’s resistance to cracking
A measure of how well a material can resist cracks growing and causing it to break.
Examples
- Engineers tested the fracture toughness of the new alloy.
- High fracture toughness is important for aircraft materials.
fracture toughness
1/fɹˈækt͡ʃɚ tˈʌfnəs/
fixed phrase
technical
resistance to crack growth
(technical) how hard it is for a crack to spread
Examples
- This alloy has high fracture toughness, so cracks spread more slowly.
- The lab measured fracture toughness at different temperatures.
- Designers choose materials based on strength and fracture toughness.
mental toughness
1/mˈɛntəl tˈʌfnəs/
fixed phrase
focus and confidence under pressure
staying strong in your mind when things are hard
Examples
- The coach trains players to build mental toughness.
- Finishing the marathon required mental toughness.
- Her mental toughness helped her handle criticism.
Learner examples
- Mental toughness helps in stressful times.
physical toughness
1/fˈɪzɪkəl tˈʌfnəs/
fixed phrase
ability to handle physical strain
being strong enough for hard physical activity
Examples
- Preseason training is designed to build physical toughness.
- Hiking in winter tests physical toughness.
- They added strength work to improve physical toughness.
Learner examples
- Training improves physical toughness.
toughness on crime
1/tˈʌfnəs ˈɔn kɹˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
strict approach to crime
being very strict about crime and punishment
Examples
- The candidate promised toughness on crime during the campaign.
- Critics argued that toughness on crime did not reduce reoffending.
- The mayor emphasized prevention rather than toughness on crime.
toughness test
1/tˈʌfnəs tˈɛst/
fixed phrase
situation proving how tough
a hard challenge that shows strength
Examples
- Working night shifts was a real toughness test for him.
- The final interview felt like a toughness test.
- The heat turned the hike into a toughness test.
Learner examples
- The long run was a toughness test.
toughness training
1/tˈʌfnəs tɹˈeɪnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
practice to build toughness
training to become tougher
Examples
- The program includes toughness training as well as strength work.
- Some teams use toughness training to prepare for high-pressure games.
- Their toughness training focuses on fatigue and decision-making.