student asking question

Can I assume "tough” and “difficult” as the same meaning? Which one is more common?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Tough" and "difficult" are pretty similar in definition. However, this is not always the case. They are the same definition as long as the word "tough" is used in the same context as this video. This is because "tough" has another definition: to be resilient and strong to endure almost any kind of situation. Here are some example sentences of "tough" being used as "difficult." Ex: That test was tough! I felt like I didn't know any of the answers. Ex: Our workout is going to be tough tonight. Here are some example sentences of "tough" being used as "resilient" or "strong." Ex: She is the toughest person I know. Ex: The volleyball team is super tough to defeat. If you are concerned about using the word "tough" correctly, I recommend paying close attention to the sentence structure. This will help you determine which definition is correct. Great question! Thanks for asking!

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