tougher than ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tougher than ever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has become more resilient or strong compared to previous times. Example: "After facing numerous challenges, she emerged from the experience tougher than ever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Her disease was tougher than ever, did pushups, Pilates.

The New Yorker

But the Rangers are back, tougher than ever.

The New York Times

This year, the index is tougher than ever.

The Guardian - Business

Finding your first job is tougher than ever.

The Guardian

The market for new graduates is tougher than ever before.

The New York Times

In Rio, that may prove tougher than ever.

The Guardian - Sport

Today's low-interest-rate environment has made the hunt for investment income tougher than ever.

The New York Times

But he is likely to find it tougher than ever to defend his title.

The New York Times - Sports

While the battle for education looks tougher than ever, the media can always be manipulated.

The New Yorker

Whereas Bill's famous appetites are fading through illness, she looks tougher than ever.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

In our undeferential, 24/7 wired world, officialdom has a tougher-than-ever job to do, and it's not always wrong.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tougher than ever", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why it is considered more challenging. For example, specify the conditions, competition, or obstacles that have increased in difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "tougher than ever" without providing specific reasons or examples. Overgeneralizing can weaken your argument and make the statement less credible. Instead of saying "the job market is tougher than ever", provide data or evidence to support this claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tougher than ever" functions as an intensifying comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or situation, emphasizing that something has become more challenging or resilient compared to its previous state. Ludwig shows its common use in describing evolving conditions or personal growth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tougher than ever" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as an intensifying comparative adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used to describe a marked increase in difficulty or resilience, often in contexts related to news, media and general informative content. The phrase is widely understood, although writers should ensure the context clearly supports the comparison being made to prevent overgeneralization. While versatile, alternative phrases like ""more challenging than before"" or ""more difficult than ever"" may provide greater precision in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

More difficult than ever

Directly indicates an increase in overall difficulty.

More challenging than before

Focuses specifically on the increase in difficulty.

More resilient than ever

Emphasizes increased resilience or ability to recover.

Stronger than ever

Highlights an increase in strength, either physically or metaphorically.

More demanding than ever

Stresses the increased demands or requirements.

More intense than ever

Focuses on the heightened intensity or pressure.

At its most challenging

Highlights the peak level of challenge.

More formidable than ever

Highlights the increased level of being intimidating or causing fear.

Incredibly more arduous

Emphasizes the extremely demanding nature of something.

Increasingly more rigorous

Stresses the rise in strictness or thoroughness.

FAQs

How can I use "tougher than ever" in a sentence?

You can use "tougher than ever" to describe situations, challenges, or even people who have become more resilient. For example, "Competition in the tech industry is "tougher than ever" due to rapid innovation" or "After overcoming many obstacles, she emerged "tougher than ever"".

What are some alternatives to saying "tougher than ever"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "more challenging than before", "more difficult than ever", or "stronger than ever".

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "tougher than ever"?

While the phrase is generally acceptable, ensure it aligns with the tone and formality of your writing. In highly formal or academic contexts, consider more precise or nuanced language to convey the same meaning. Also, verify if the usage of "tougher than ever" is not an overstatement and there is data to justify it. For example the phrase "more demanding than ever" could be more suited in those scenarios.

What makes "tougher than ever" different from "more difficult than ever"?

"Tougher than ever" often implies resilience and increased endurance, while ""more difficult than ever"" simply emphasizes increased difficulty. The former suggests a strengthening through adversity, while the latter focuses on the challenge itself.