tough to detect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough to detect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is difficult to notice or identify, often in contexts like technology, security, or subtle behaviors. Example: "The malware was cleverly disguised, making it tough to detect by standard antivirus software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Lyme disease is notoriously tough to detect.

The New York Times

"Even though it is unnatural, it exists in our country and is now fast spreading, making it tough to detect".

The New York Times

"These are really tough to detect," the director of pharmacy affairs at the food and drug agency, Thomas J. McGinnis, said.

The New York Times

Plus it's tough to detect, much less mitigate.

Forbes

For node X, although it identifies the link failure of X → Z by LLN, it is tough to detect the failure of Y → Z instantly.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The problem is that on many occasions this season it has been tough to detect what the plan actually is.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Amateurs are tougher to detect and catch.

The New York Times

"A lot of them are much tougher to detect than the old systems of the 70's and 80's," said Dr. Gary Hitzig, medical director of the American Hair Loss Council.

The New York Times - Style

But engineers say that this type of drilling is riskier and more complicated than traditional drilling because it is relatively new and gas kicks are more frequent and tougher to detect.

The New York Times

Hard to detect.

Forbes

Included in these materials were a number of renders and product shots; unfortunately, we've got reason to believe that these images have tough-to-detect security watermarks.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a problem or issue that requires careful investigation, use "tough to detect" to emphasize the need for specialized tools or expertise.

Common error

Avoid using "tough to detect" when simpler alternatives like "hard to see" or "difficult to find" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the detection process itself is complex or requires specific skills.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough to detect" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the attribute of something being difficult to perceive or identify. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tough to detect" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that is difficult to identify or notice. Ludwig AI confirms this analysis. While the phrase is suitable for a range of contexts, including news media and scientific writing, it is most frequently found in news articles. When using this phrase, consider whether simpler alternatives might be more appropriate for the context, particularly in more casual settings. Semantically, it can be replaced by "difficult to discern" or "hard to pinpoint". "Tough to detect" highlights the need for careful examination or advanced techniques.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to discern

Replaces "tough" with "difficult" and "detect" with "discern", altering word choice while maintaining the core meaning.

hard to pinpoint

Substitutes "tough" with "hard" and "detect" with "pinpoint", emphasizing the challenge of precisely identifying something.

challenging to identify

Replaces "tough" with "challenging" and "detect" with "identify", highlighting the difficulty in recognizing something.

not easy to notice

Emphasizes the lack of ease in noticing something, replacing "tough" and "detect" with simpler synonyms.

subtle and elusive

Describes something as both subtle and elusive, indicating its difficulty to perceive or capture.

obscure to recognize

Highlights the obscurity of something, making it difficult to recognize.

imperceptible to identify

Indicates that something is almost impossible to perceive or identify.

elusive and indiscernible

Emphasizes the elusive nature and indiscernibility of something, highlighting its difficulty to detect.

evasive to discover

Highlights the evasive quality of something, making it hard to discover.

hidden from view

Focuses on the fact that something is not easily visible or apparent.

FAQs

What does "tough to detect" mean?

The phrase "tough to detect" means something is difficult to notice, find, or identify, often requiring special effort or expertise.

What can I say instead of "tough to detect"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to discern", "hard to pinpoint", or "challenging to identify" depending on the context.

How can "tough to detect" be used in a sentence?

You might say, "Lyme disease is notoriously "tough to detect" in its early stages" or "The new malware is "tough to detect" by standard antivirus software".

Is there a difference between "tough to detect" and "hard to detect"?

While both phrases are similar, "tough to detect" may slightly emphasize the resilience or cleverness of whatever is being detected, whereas "hard to detect" is a more general statement of difficulty.