“Tough” or “Tuff”—Which to use?

“Tough” or “Tuff”

Overview

tough / tuff are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

tough: (adjective) not given to gentleness or sentimentality. (adjective) physically toughened. (adjective) resistant to cutting or chewing.

tuff: (noun) hard volcanic rock composed of compacted volcanic ash.

Pronunciation

tough: t·AH·f

tuff: t·AH·f

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Examples in Context

Examples of “tough”

…that so much of Gish's tough, funny, intuitive performance, particularly in…
…distinctions as these papers are tough.
…July 2012, due to the tough economic climate.
…who wanted to make a tough race over the Wicklow Mountains.
…was best known for his tough style of playing.
…do this, this is a tough role because I'm bringing you…
233: Tough Justice
…part of Paper 2 was tough and difficult to score.
…Paper 1, is usually very tough to score above 30.
…a rube posing as a tough racketeer.

Examples of “tuff”

Tuff makes up a considerable amount…
Instead, Tuff Hedeman won the championship; Hedeman…
…recorded in Kingston, Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios and Anchor Studios…
…volcanic eruptions that caused the tuff stone in which the fossils…
Tuff Hedeman, rodeo performer
The tuff has allowed detailed dating of…
…in 1954 reported beds of tuff in the Paja Formation near…
…BAFTA-winning animated series, mixed-media comedy Tuff Pom and The Grim Repo…
…Wet Side Edge Member (andesitic lapilli-tuff) and Long Top Member (rhyolitic…
"Tuff Stuff 2005 Standard Catalog of…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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