What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Flimsy vs Tough - What's the difference?

flimsy | tough |

As adjectives the difference between flimsy and tough

is that flimsy is likely to bend or break under pressure; weak, shaky, flexible, or fragile while tough is strong and resilient; sturdy.

As nouns the difference between flimsy and tough

is that flimsy is thin typing paper used to make multiple copies while tough is a person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

As an interjection tough is

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

As a verb tough is

to endure.

flimsy

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Likely to bend or break under pressure; weak, shaky, flexible, or fragile.
    • He expected the flimsy structure to collapse at any moment.
  • * Sheridan
    • All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain.

    Antonyms

    * robust * strong * sturdy

    Noun

    (flimsies)
  • Thin typing paper used to make multiple copies.
  • *1977 , , The Honourable Schoolboy , Folio Society 2010, p. 251:
  • *:Smiley peered once more at the flimsy which he still clutched in his pudgy hand.
  • (informal, in the plural) Skimpy underwear.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2007, date=October 25, author=Ruth La Ferla, title=Now It’s Nobody’s Secret, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=Choosing lingerie “is about what makes you look good, but also what looks good with or through your clothing,” said Monica Mitro, a spokeswoman for Victoria’s Secret, the brand that catapulted racy flimsies into the public eye. }}

    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

    * ----