Tough

adj.resilient, capableeveryday

What it means

Able to withstand strain, hardship, or damage.

Reach for it when praising resilience in a person or durability in a thing

She proved tough enough to hear the diagnosis and still ask the questions that mattered.

playful
scrappy
when an underestimated person fights resourcefully
not when Scrappy is too informal for dignified endurance and can suggest quarrelsomeness.
everyday
hardy
when health or survival under difficult conditions is meant
not when Hardy suits plants, animals, and constitutions better than moral courage.
everyday
rugged
when rough conditions and robust construction are prominent
not when Rugged may imply an outdoorsy appearance rather than tested strength.
everyday
strong
when broad physical or emotional capacity is sufficient
not when Strong is less specific about exposure to hardship.
professional
durable
when an object resists wear through repeated use
not when Durable is impersonal and awkward for someone's emotional endurance.
professional
resilient
when recovery after pressure or setback is the strength
not when Resilient emphasizes bouncing back, not enduring the blow without damage.
formal
stoic
when pain is borne without outward complaint
not when Stoic can suggest emotional suppression, which tough need not imply.
literary
formidable
when strength makes a person difficult to defeat
not when Formidable can sound intimidating rather than warmly admiring.

tough decision
The director made a tough decision without pretending that either option was painless.
tough enough
The fabric was tough enough for daily use in the rescue shelter.
mentally tough
A mentally tough athlete can reset after a mistake without denying the disappointment.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.