absolutely tough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely tough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme difficulty or severity of a situation or task. Example: "The exam was absolutely tough, and many students struggled to finish it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ralph Brown deserves a huge amount of the credit for saving Trinidad, and he did it by being absolutely tough..

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I absolutely love tough conditions, the two-time United States Open champion said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Novak's absolutely a tough player at this moment," Federer said.

The New York Times - Sports

I know from many years in the Department of Justice that Robert S. Mueller, a candidate for the job of F.B.I. director, is universally admired by federal prosecutors and agents as an absolutely straight, tough, nonpartisan prosecutor.

The New York Times

"It was absolutely the toughest thing I've had to do as a business owner," Mr. Fritts said.

The New York Times

"He's absolutely the toughest, best winner I've ever been fortunate enough to play with or coach".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was absolutely the toughest vote I had to cast," she said.

Huffington Post

"He was absolutely, probably the toughest person I dealt with in negotiations.

The New York Times

"Absolutely, he is a tough guy, and that is not a bad thing," Mr. Adler said.

The New York Times

The change in attitudes that tends to hold teachers responsible for absolutely everything is terribly tough.

The Guardian

"He's tough and absolutely fearless," said Dick Ebersol, the president of NBC Sports.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely tough" to emphasize the extreme nature of a challenge or situation. It adds a layer of intensity beyond simply stating something is "tough".

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely tough" in very casual conversation. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or dramatic in everyday settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely tough" functions as an adjectival phrase used to modify a noun, emphasizing the intensity and severity of a situation, challenge, or person's character. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Reference

0.5%

Encyclopedias

0.3%

Wiki

0.2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely tough" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival phrase that intensifies the meaning of "tough", as confirmed by Ludwig. It is commonly found in news and media contexts to describe situations or people exhibiting extreme difficulty or resilience. While its use is generally appropriate, it should be avoided in extremely informal settings where a simpler expression like "really tough" might be more suitable. When aiming to emphasize the severity of a challenge, "absolutely tough" is a strong and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely demanding

Direct synonym, similar to absolutely tough.

extremely difficult

Emphasizes the degree of difficulty.

incredibly challenging

Focuses on the challenging nature of the task or situation.

utterly demanding

Highlights the high level of demands placed on someone or something.

completely arduous

Stresses the strenuous and laborious aspect.

thoroughly rigorous

Emphasizes the strictness and precision involved.

exceptionally taxing

Highlights the depleting or exhausting nature.

unquestionably rigorous

Indicates a certainty about the demanding nature.

undeniably challenging

Highlights the irrefutable challenge.

really tough

Less formal synonym.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely tough" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely tough" to describe a situation or task that is extremely difficult or challenging. For example, "The final exam was absolutely tough, requiring extensive preparation".

What are some alternatives to "absolutely tough"?

Alternatives include "extremely difficult", "incredibly challenging", or "utterly demanding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "absolutely tough" formal or informal?

"Absolutely tough" leans towards a more formal register due to the intensifier "absolutely". In very casual conversation, "really tough" might be more appropriate.

Which is more impactful, "tough" or "absolutely tough"?

"Absolutely tough" is more impactful because the word "absolutely" intensifies the adjective "tough", emphasizing the extreme degree of difficulty or severity.