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Tough vs. Tuff — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 27, 2023
Tough refers to something hard to break or endure, while Tuff is a type of rock formed from volcanic ash. They have distinct meanings and usages.
Tough vs. Tuff — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Tough and Tuff

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Key Differences

The English language possesses numerous words that sound similar but carry distinct meanings. Tough and Tuff are classic examples. Tough primarily describes something that's hard to break, tear, or cut. Think of a tough steak that requires more effort to chew. In contrast, Tuff denotes a specific type of rock that forms when volcanic ash hardens. Its application is geological rather than general.
Interestingly, Tough is a versatile word with applications across various contexts — from describing physical durability to emotional resilience. On the other hand, Tuff remains rooted in its geological context, never straying far from discussions about rocks and volcanoes.
While Tough can paint a picture of a rugged individual or a challenging situation, Tuff paints landscapes shaped by volcanic activity. Conclusively, though they sound alike, Tough and Tuff inhabit entirely different worlds in language.

Comparison Chart

Meaning

Hard to break, tear, or cut; requiring great endurance.
Rock formed from hardened volcanic ash.

Use

Descriptive adjective.
Geological term.
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Origin

Middle English "tough", related to "tug".
Altered form of "tufa", from Latin "tōfus".

Example Usage

That's a tough question.
The hill is made of tuff from an ancient eruption.

Phonetic Similarity

Sounds similar to "tuff".
Sounds similar to "tough".

Compare with Definitions

Tough

Requiring much effort.
It was a tough climb to the summit.

Tuff

A type of rock.
Tuff is common in volcanic regions.

Tough

Resilient or enduring.
She's tough; she can handle any challenge.

Tuff

Formed from volcanic ash.
The tuff layer indicates a past eruption.

Tough

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

Tuff

Can vary in hardness.
The tuff here is soft and easily eroded.

Tough

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

Tuff

Often used in construction.
Tuff blocks were used to build ancient structures.

Tough

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

Tuff

Exhibits various colors.
The red tuff contrasts beautifully with the green landscape.

Tough

Strong and prone to violence
Tough young teenagers

Tuff

Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is lithified into a solid rock.

Tough

A rough and violent man
A gang of toughs

Tuff

A light, porous rock formed by consolidation of volcanic ash.

Tough

Endure a period of hardship or difficulty.

Tuff

A rock composed of compacted volcanic ash varying in size from fine sand to coarse gravel.

Tough

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

Tuff

(rock) A light porous rock, now especially a rock composed of compacted volcanic ash varying in size from fine sand to coarse gravel.

Tough

Hard to cut or chew
Tough meat.

Tuff

Same as Tufa.

Tough

Physically hardy; rugged
Tough mountaineers.
A tough cop.

Tuff

Hard volcanic rock composed of compacted volcanic ash

Tough

Strong-minded; resolute
A tough negotiator.

Tough

Aggressive; pugnacious.

Tough

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

Tough

Difficult to endure; severe; harsh
A tough winter.

Tough

Trying or unpleasant
Had a tough day.

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.

Tough

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

Tough

(Slang) Fine; great.

Tough

A violent or rowdy person; a hoodlum or thug.

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

(of weather, etc.) Harsh or severe.

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

(material science) Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.

Tough

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

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.

Tough

To endure.

Tough

To toughen.

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.

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.

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

Severe; violent; as, a tough storm.

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

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

Tough

An aggressive and violent young criminal

Tough

A cruel and brutal fellow

Tough

Not given to gentleness or sentimentality;
A tough character

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

Tough

Physically toughened;
The tough bottoms of his feet

Tough

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

Tough

Violent and lawless;
The more ruffianly element
Tough street gangs

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

Tough

Tough to cut or chew

Tough

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

Tough

Hard to break or tear.
The leather is tough and durable.

Tough

Difficult to endure.
He had a tough childhood but emerged stronger.

Tough

Hard to chew.
The steak was tough and overcooked.

Common Curiosities

Can you say "tuff steak"?

No, that would be incorrect. It should be "tough steak".

Can tough describe a person's personality?

Yes, it can mean resilient or emotionally strong.

Where might I find tuff in nature?

In regions with past volcanic activity.

How can I remember the difference between tough and tuff?

Remember that "tuff" has to do with "stuff" from volcanoes.

Can you call a difficult task "tuff"?

No, the correct term would be "tough".

Why was the meat so hard to chew?

It was likely too tough.

Are Tough and Tuff interchangeable?

No, "tough" describes durability or difficulty, while "tuff" is a type of rock.

Is tuff always related to volcanoes?

Yes, tuff is formed from hardened volcanic ash.

How does tuff form?

From the compaction and cementation of volcanic ash.

Are there buildings made of tuff?

Yes, tuff has been historically used in construction due to its durability.

Is tuff a common rock?

It's common in areas with historical volcanic eruptions.

Does tough always mean difficult?

No, it can also describe physical durability.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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