Ask Difference

Simple vs. Tough — What's the Difference?

By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 15, 2024
"Simple" denotes ease, clarity, or lack of complexity, while "Tough" indicates difficulty, strength, or resilience.
Simple vs. Tough — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Simple and Tough

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Key Differences

"Simple" refers to something easy to understand or do, without complexity. For instance, a simple task requires minimal effort. "Tough," on the other hand, describes something difficult, challenging, or hard to deal with. For example, a tough problem requires significant effort and skill to solve.
In terms of lifestyle, "simple" suggests minimalism and lack of stress, such as in a simple, uncluttered life. "Tough" implies endurance and strength, often associated with overcoming hardships, like in a tough upbringing.
In communication, "simple" language is clear and straightforward, making it easy for others to understand. "Tough" language, however, can be harsh, direct, or difficult to confront, as in a tough critique.
When describing people, "simple" can mean uncomplicated and straightforward in behavior, whereas "tough" refers to someone strong, resilient, and capable of handling stress or adversity.
While "simple" often has a positive connotation of ease and clarity, "tough" carries a connotation of resilience and difficulty, highlighting the contrast between ease and challenge.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Easy, clear, uncomplicated
Difficult, resilient, strong

Example

A simple task
A tough challenge

Connotation

Positive (ease, clarity)
Positive/negative (strength, difficulty)

Usage in Lifestyle

Minimalistic, stress-free
Enduring, overcoming hardship

Language

Clear, straightforward
Harsh, direct

Compare with Definitions

Simple

Uncomplicated in structure.
She wore a simple dress.

Tough

Strict or harsh.
She gave him a tough punishment.

Simple

Minimalistic in approach.
He prefers a simple life.

Tough

Able to withstand hardship.
They had a tough journey.

Simple

Lacking in complexity.
The solution is simple.

Tough

Hard to break or damage.
The material is tough.

Simple

Easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty
A simple solution
Camcorders are now so simple to operate

Tough

(of a substance or object) strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling
Tough rucksacks for climbers

Simple

Plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation
The house is furnished in a simple country style
A simple white blouse

Tough

Able to endure hardship or pain
She was as tough as old boots

Simple

Composed of a single element; not compound.

Tough

Demonstrating a strict and uncompromising approach
Police have been getting tough with drivers
Tough new laws on tobacco advertising

Simple

Of very low intelligence.

Tough

Strong and prone to violence
Tough young teenagers

Simple

A medicinal herb, or a medicine made from one
The gatherers of simples

Tough

A rough and violent man
A gang of toughs

Simple

Used to convey that something is very straightforward
I don't overanalyse. I listen, I like, I buy. Simple!

Tough

Endure a period of hardship or difficulty.

Simple

Having few parts or features; not complicated or elaborate
A house with a simple floor plan.

Tough

Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient
A tough all-weather fabric.

Simple

Easy to understand, do, or carry out
A simple set of instructions.
A simple chore.

Tough

Hard to cut or chew
Tough meat.

Simple

Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part
A simple chemical substance.

Tough

Physically hardy; rugged
Tough mountaineers.
A tough cop.

Simple

Being without additions or modifications; mere
A simple "yes" or "no.".

Tough

Strong-minded; resolute
A tough negotiator.

Simple

(Biology) Having no divisions or branches; not compound
A simple leaf.
A simple eye or lens.

Tough

Aggressive; pugnacious.

Simple

(Music) Being without figuration or elaboration
A simple tone.

Tough

Inclined to violent or disruptive behavior; rowdy or rough
A tough street group.

Simple

Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned
A simple dress.

Tough

Difficult to endure; severe; harsh
A tough winter.

Simple

Not characterized by luxury or elaborate commitments
Simple living.

Tough

Trying or unpleasant
Had a tough day.

Simple

Not pretentious, guileful, or deceitful; humble or sincere
A simple child.
Told us about his achievement in the simplest manner.

Tough

Difficult to deal with; demanding or troubling
It's tough to go to school and work a full-time job. The exam had many tough questions.

Simple

Having or showing little intelligence, education, or experience
Simple people who have trouble understanding health regulations.

Tough

(Informal) Unfortunate; too bad
It was a tough break to get sick on the day of the concert.

Simple

Lowly in condition or rank
A simple woodcutter.

Tough

(Slang) Fine; great.

Simple

A medicinal plant or the medicine obtained from it.

Tough

A violent or rowdy person; a hoodlum or thug.

Simple

Uncomplicated; taken by itself, with nothing added.

Tough

(of a material) Strong and resilient; sturdy.
The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.

Simple

Without ornamentation; plain.

Tough

(of food) Difficult to cut or chew.
To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours.

Simple

Free from duplicity; guileless, innocent, straightforward.

Tough

(of a person or animal) Rugged or physically hardy.
Only a tough species will survive in the desert.

Simple

Undistinguished in social condition; of no special rank.

Tough

(of a person) Stubborn or persistent; capable of stubbornness or persistence.
He had a reputation as a tough negotiator.

Simple

Trivial; insignificant.

Tough

(of weather, etc.) Harsh or severe.

Simple

Feeble-minded; foolish.

Tough

Rowdy or rough.
A bunch of the tough boys from the wrong side of the tracks threatened him.

Simple

Structurally uncomplicated.

Tough

(of questions, etc.) Difficult or demanding.
This is a tough crowd.

Simple

Consisting of one single substance; uncompounded.

Tough

(material science) Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.

Simple

(mathematics) Of a group: having no normal subgroup.

Tough

(slang) Used to indicate lack of sympathy
If you don't like it, tough!

Simple

(botany) Not compound, but possibly lobed.

Tough

A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.
They were doing fine until they encountered a bunch of toughs from the opposition.

Simple

Using steam only once in its cylinders, in contrast to a compound engine, where steam is used more than once in high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.

Tough

To endure.

Simple

(zoology) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; not compound.
A simple ascidian

Tough

To toughen.

Simple

(mineralogy) Homogenous.

Tough

Having the quality of flexibility without brittleness; yielding to force without breaking; capable of resisting great strain; as, the ligaments of animals are remarkably tough.

Simple

(obsolete) Mere; not other than; being only.

Tough

Not easily broken; able to endure hardship; firm; strong; - of objects and people; as, tough sinews.
A body made of brass, the crone demands, . . . Tough to the last, and with no toil to tire.
The basis of his character was caution combined with tough tenacity of purpose.

Simple

(pharmaceutical drug) A herbal preparation made from one plant, as opposed to something made from more than one plant.

Tough

Not easily separated; viscous; clammy; tenacious; as, tough phlegm.

Simple

A physician.

Tough

Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow.
So tough a frame she could not bend.

Simple

(logic) A simple or atomic proposition.

Tough

Severe; violent; as, a tough storm.

Simple

(obsolete) Something not mixed or compounded.

Tough

Difficult to do, perform, or accomplish; as, a tough job.

Simple

(weaving) A drawloom.

Tough

Prone to aggressive or violent behavior; rowdyish; - of people, or groups; as, a tough neighborhood; a tough character.

Simple

(weaving) Part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.

Tough

A person who is tough{7}; a ruffian; a thug; as, a cluster of neighborhood toughs hanging out on the corner.

Simple

(Roman Catholicism) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

Tough

Someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing

Simple

To gather simples, i.e. medicinal herbs.

Tough

An aggressive and violent young criminal

Simple

Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

Tough

A cruel and brutal fellow

Simple

Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress.

Tough

Not given to gentleness or sentimentality;
A tough character

Simple

Mere; not other than; being only.
A medicine . . . whose simple touchIs powerful to araise King Pepin.

Tough

Very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution;
A rugged competitive examination
The rugged conditions of frontier life
The competition was tough
It's a tough life
It was a tough job

Simple

Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.
Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them.
Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue?
To be simple is to be great.

Tough

Physically toughened;
The tough bottoms of his feet

Simple

Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.
In simple manners all the secret lies.

Tough

Substantially made or constructed;
Sturdy steel shelves
Sturdy canvas
A tough all-weather fabric
Some plastics are as tough as metal

Simple

Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.

Tough

Violent and lawless;
The more ruffianly element
Tough street gangs

Simple

Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Tough

Feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad');
My throat feels bad
She felt bad all over
He was feeling tough after a restless night

Simple

Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.
Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights.

Tough

Tough to cut or chew

Simple

Humble; lowly; undistinguished.
A simple husbandman in garments gray.
Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire.

Tough

Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break

Simple

Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

Tough

Difficult to deal with or endure.
The exam was tough.

Simple

Homogenous.

Tough

Physically strong or resilient.
He is a tough athlete.

Simple

Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; - opposed to compound.
I am a simple woman, much too weakTo oppose your cunning.
He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion.

Simple

Something not mixed or compounded.

Simple

A medicinal plant; - so called because each vegetable was supposed to possess its particular virtue, and therefore to constitute a simple remedy.
What virtue is in this remedy lies in the naked simple itself as it comes over from the Indies.

Simple

A drawloom.

Simple

A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

Simple

To gather simples, or medicinal plants.
As simpling on the flowery hills she [Circe] strayed.

Simple

Any herbaceous plant having medicinal properties

Simple

A person lacking intelligence or common sense

Simple

Having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved;
A simple problem
Simple mechanisms
A simple design
A simple substance

Simple

Easy and not involved or complicated;
An elementary problem in statistics
Elementary, my dear Watson
A simple game
Found an uncomplicated solution to the problem

Simple

Apart from anything else; without additions or modifications;
Only the bare facts
Shocked by the mere idea
The simple passage of time was enough
The simple truth

Simple

Exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity;
Childlike trust
Dewy-eyed innocence
Simple courtesy

Simple

Lacking mental capacity and devoid of subtlety

Simple

(botany) of leaf shapes; of leaves having no divisions or subdivisions

Simple

Not elaborate in style; unornamented;
A simple country schoolhouse
Her black dress--simple to austerity

Simple

Easy to understand or do.
The instructions were simple.

Simple

Clear and straightforward.
The explanation was simple.

Common Curiosities

Can "simple" refer to lifestyle choices?

Yes, it can refer to a minimalistic, stress-free lifestyle.

What is an example of a simple task?

Folding laundry is a simple task.

What does "simple" mean?

It means easy to understand or do.

Is "simple" always positive?

Generally, yes, it connotes ease and clarity.

How is "tough" used to describe situations?

It describes situations that are difficult or challenging.

Does "tough" imply physical strength?

Yes, it can imply being physically strong or resilient.

How does "simple" relate to communication?

It means using clear and straightforward language.

How does "tough" relate to behavior?

It indicates being resilient and able to handle stress.

Can "tough" describe emotional resilience?

Yes, it can describe someone emotionally strong.

Can "tough" have a negative connotation?

Yes, when it implies harshness or difficulty.

What is an example of a tough problem?

Solving a complex math equation is a tough problem.

What type of design is considered simple?

Minimalistic and uncluttered design is considered simple.

How does "tough" describe materials?

It describes materials that are hard to break or damage.

Is "simple" the opposite of "tough"?

Yes, in terms of ease versus difficulty.

What kind of upbringing is termed tough?

One that involves overcoming hardships and challenges.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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