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Sough vs Tough - What's the difference?

sough | tough |

As verbs the difference between sough and tough

is that sough is to make a soft rustling or murmuring sound while tough is to endure.

As nouns the difference between sough and tough

is that sough is a rushing, rustling sound or sough can be a small drain; an adit while tough is a person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

As an adjective tough is

strong and resilient; sturdy.

As an interjection tough is

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

sough

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
  • *1963 , Sterling North, Rascal , Avon Books (softcover), p 101:
  • *:I lay awake for a while that evening, listening to the soughing of the wind high in the pines, realizing sadly that we must now return to civilization.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rushing, rustling sound.
  • * W. Howitt
    • The whispering leaves or solemn sough of the forest.
  • A sigh.
  • (Scotland, obsolete) A vague rumour.
  • (Scotland, obsolete) A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.

    • See also

    * susurrus

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (whence also (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small drain; an adit.

    • 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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