felt tough

USAGE SUMMARY

"felt tough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something was difficult to do. For example, "The exam felt tough, but I think I did well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I felt tough.

The New Yorker

Even the tender ones felt tough, especially the heartbreaking "Dancing on My Own," as close as Robyn has to an anthem.

The New York Times - Arts

Starsky and Hutch, which felt tough to young TV audiences in the 1970s, received a comic makeover in the 2004 movie with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

The Guardian - Film

It felt tough and edgy and exciting.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Woods admitted that trying to make the cut on the final few holes felt tougher than trying to win a tournament.

The New York Times - Sports

As an entrepreneur myself, I remember struggling with a number of difficult decisions, all of which felt tougher because I couldn't pull myself out of the weeds in order to see the big picture.

Huffington Post

As a teen, I didn't feel tough enough to be a punk.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What Henry Jackson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Ariel Sharon, Benjamin Netanyahu and George W. Bush have in common is that they enabled bookish men to feel tough, beautifully, enviably tough.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think the biggest issue in politics is that people feel despondent and let down, everything feels tough.

The Guardian

The idea of having to grind away on the phone when she has a stake in this feels tough".

The New York Times

Its second album, "Showface" (Anthemusa), has finally been released, and whatever mystery lies behind the long wait, the new music feels tough and loose, totally incubated.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "felt tough" to describe a personal experience of resilience or strength in the face of adversity. It's best suited for narrative contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "felt tough" to describe objective facts. It's about a subjective experience, not a measurable quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "felt tough" functions as a descriptive verb phrase, where "felt" is the linking verb and "tough" is the adjective describing the subject's emotional or physical state. Ludwig AI provides examples in which something is hard to watch, also to describe an emotional experience. It conveys a sense of resilience or perceived strength.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "felt tough" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a subjective feeling of strength or resilience in the face of adversity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this expression is usable in written English and particularly suitable for narrative contexts. While primarily found in news and media sources, the expression maintains a generally neutral tone. When considering alternative expressions, ensure the replacement aligns with the intended nuance of experienced strength or resilience. Remember, Ludwig helps you use English with confidence!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt resilient

Focuses on the personal feeling of strength and ability to bounce back.

was hard

Simple and direct way to describe the difficulty.

seemed difficult

Focuses on the perception of difficulty rather than a feeling of strength.

appeared challenging

Highlights the challenging nature of something, downplaying personal feelings.

seemed strong

Focuses on the impression of strength.

was resilient

Shifts the focus to the quality of being strong and able to recover quickly from difficulties.

felt invincible

Implies a feeling of being unbeatable or immune to harm.

was formidable

Emphasizes the intimidating or impressive nature of something difficult.

appeared sturdy

Highlights the robust and solid appearance, rather than the subjective feeling.

seemed unbreakable

Suggests an impression of invulnerability.

FAQs

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

You can use "felt tough" to describe a personal experience of strength or resilience, such as: "After finishing the marathon, I "felt tough" and accomplished."

What's a good alternative to "felt tough"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "seemed difficult", "felt resilient", or "was hard".

Is "felt tough" formal or informal?

"Felt tough" is generally considered neutral in formality, suitable for both news articles and personal narratives.

What does it mean to say something "felt tough"?

Saying something "felt tough" implies that it presented a significant challenge or difficulty, and you experienced a sense of strength or resilience in facing it.