tough

"They were doing fine until they encountered a bunch of toughs from the opposition."

"My brother had to tough out the final exam; he studied hard to endure the long test. "

"The new chef is toughening his employees by giving them challenging tasks. "

"The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses."

"To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours."

"Only a tough species will survive in the desert."

"He had a reputation as a tough negotiator."

"The winter weather was tough this year, with freezing temperatures and heavy snow. "

"A bunch of the tough boys from the wrong side of the tracks threatened him."

"This is a tough crowd."

"The metal used to build the bike frame is very tough; it can withstand a lot of pressure before bending or breaking. "

""Tough," she said, "you should have studied harder for the test." "