toughie

or tough·y

[ tuhf-ee ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural tough·ies.

1. a tough person, especially one who is belligerent:

   The sheriff was a local toughie with very little patience for outsiders.

2. a difficult problem or situation:

   That math test was a real toughie!

3. a harsh or blunt book, movie, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of toughie¹

First recorded in 1920–25; tough + -ie

Example Sentences

In private, a lot of Republicans would like to make significant progress on border security while reupping Ukrainian munitions; politically, though, voting for more Ukraine aid alongside “Biden’s border plan” is a toughie with Trump so ardently opposed.

From Slate

Cardellini: Yeah, that line was a — that was a toughie.

From Los Angeles Times

The film profiles Toughie - the last living Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog.

From BBC

When the waitress, a toughie who intimidated us when she took our order, brought out the soup, she glared at us as she dropped it at the table.

From New York Times

The two team up to track down the missing girl, though the mystery takes second fiddle to their spats and sexual tension, boiling over when Jane dares to touch on David’s past traumas, a big no-no for the stoic toughie.

From New York Times