Cool MateStrong vs Tough
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Strong
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Tough
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
| Strong | Tough | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/strɒŋ/","/ˈstrɒŋɡə(r)/","/ˈstrɒŋɡɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/strɔːŋ/","/ˈstrɔːŋɡər/","/ˈstrɔːŋɡɪst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/tʌf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʌf/"]/ |
| Meaning | powerful or tough | Hard or difficult to deal with |
| Example | She has a strong desire to help others. | The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be still going strong | be, seem, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, be, become, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, with, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | weak, fragile, feeble | easy, soft, gentle |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sturdy' for describing objects instead of strength., Using 'strong' with uncountable nouns when a different adjective is needed., Overusing 'strong' in negative contexts instead of using 'weak' or 'fragile'. | Using 'tough' as a noun — 'He is a tough' should be 'He is tough'., Confusing 'tough' with 'though' in casual speech., Overusing 'tough' in contexts where 'difficult' is more suitable. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe physical strength, emotional power, or intensity. Suitable in various contexts, but avoid in overly formal writing. | Use 'tough' to describe something that is difficult, whether it's a situation or a person’s character. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may sound too informal in very serious discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Strong vs Tough
What's the difference between Strong and Tough?
Strong: powerful or tough Tough: Hard or difficult to deal with
Which is more advanced: Strong and Tough?
Tough is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Strong and Tough the same CEFR level?
Strong: A1, Tough: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Strong and Tough?
Strong: adjective, Tough: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Strong: She has a strong desire to help others. Tough: The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place.
Can I use Strong and Tough interchangeably?
Not always. Strong and Tough are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.