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Handsome vs Tough - What's the difference?

handsome | tough |

As adjectives the difference between handsome and tough

is that handsome is (obsolete|said of things and people) dexterous; skillful while tough is strong and resilient; sturdy.

As verbs the difference between handsome and tough

is that handsome is (obsolete) to render handsome while tough is to endure.

As an interjection tough is

(slang) (used to indicate lack of sympathy).

As a noun tough is

a person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

handsome

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • (obsolete, said of things and people) Dexterous; skillful
  • *
  • *
  • (of a man) Visually attractive; pleasant looking.
    • a handsome' man; a ' handsome garment, house, tree, horse.
  • (of a woman) Striking, impressive and elegantly proportioned, though not typically beautiful.
  • Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate.
    • a handsome style, etc.
  • *
  • Generous or noble in character
    • Handsome' is as ' handsome does.
  • Ample; moderately large.
    • a handsome salary
  • *
  • Having a good appearance
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 5 , author=Phil Dawkes , title=QPR 2 - 3 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.}}

    Derived terms

    * do the handsome thing

    Synonyms

    * (attractive) pretty

    Verb

    (handsom)
  • (obsolete) To render handsome.

    • tough

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Strong and resilient; sturdy.
    • The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.
  • (of food) Difficult to cut or chew.
    • To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours.
  • Rugged or physically hardy.
    • Only a tough species will survive in the desert.
  • Stubborn.
    • He had a reputation as a tough negotiator.
  • (of weather etc) Harsh or severe.
  • Rowdy or rough.
    • A bunch of the tough boys from the wrong side of the tracks threatened him.
  • Difficult or demanding.
    • This is a tough crowd.
  • (material science) Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.

    • Derived terms

    * do it tough * hang tough * supertough * tough call * tough case * tough cookie * tough crowd * tough love * tough luck * tough-minded * tough nut to crack * tough row to hoe * tough shit * tough titty * tough toodles * tough tuchus * toughen * toughie * toughish * toughly * toughness * toughy * ultratough *

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (slang) (Used to indicate lack of sympathy)
    • If you don't like it, tough !

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.
    • They were doing fine until they encountered a bunch of toughs from the opposition.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To endure.
  • To toughen.

    • Derived terms

    * tough it out * tough out

    Anagrams

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