76 entries under tough topic. ×

5
headstrong(adjective, hard, rough, harsh)
5
inclement(adjective, hard, severe, rough)
5
puritanical(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
5
strait-laced(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
4
callous(adjective, mean, hard, severe)
3
hard-shelled(adjective, hard, severe, rough)
3
hostile(adjective, severe, harsh, dark)
2
disciplinary(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
2
no-nonsense(adjective, set, severe, firm)
2
painful(adjective, harsh, cruel, grim)
2
perverse(adjective, severe, harsh, cruel)
2
stuffy(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
2
unpleasant(adjective, hard, severe, sharp)
2
uptight(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
1
dead set(expression, adjective, severe, firm)
1
disagreeable(adjective, severe, harsh, dark)
1
grievous(adjective, severe, harsh, cruel)
1
hard as nails(expression, adjective, idiom, severe)
1
intemperate(adjective, hard, severe, rough)
1
iron-fisted(adjective, severe, firm, harsh)
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APASmart Define. (2016). stern thesaurus. Retrieved September 29, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/stern/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "stern thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/stern/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 29, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, stern thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 29 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/stern/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "stern thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 29 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/stern/thesaurus/synonyms>