Toughish is an adjective that describes something or someone that is somewhat tough or resilient. The word is spelled as /ˈtʌfɪʃ/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "tuf," is pronounced with the short vowel sound /ʌ/, followed by the suffix "-ish," which means "somewhat resembling." The pronunciation of "ish" sounds very similar to /ɪʃ/, and is a popular suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, verbs or adjectives, denoting a partial resemblance or similarity. Overall, toughish is an informal and colloquial word that is commonly used in daily language.
Toughish is an adjective that describes something or someone as being somewhat tough or displaying traits of toughness, without fully embodying the complete definition of toughness. It is derived from the word "tough," which refers to a quality of being strong, resilient, and able to withstand difficult situations.
When used to describe an object, situation, or task, toughish implies that it is moderately challenging or demanding, requiring some degree of strength, effort, or endurance. For example, a toughish exam may be difficult but not exceptionally so, or a toughish hike may be quite strenuous but manageable for someone with average fitness levels.
When applied to individuals, the term toughish portrays someone who possesses a certain level of resilience, grit, or determination, but may not be perceived as extremely rugged or unwavering. They exhibit strength and resolve, but to a lesser extent than those commonly associated with being tough. A toughish person may possess some toughness in certain aspects of their life, such as handling professional challenges or personal setbacks, but might struggle when faced with more intense adversities.
Overall, toughish can be seen as a descriptor that acknowledges some degree of toughness, without reaching the pinnacle of resilience or durability. It recognizes a certain strength but leaves room for the presence of vulnerabilities or limitations.
Rather tough.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word toughish is derived from the adjective tough, which can be traced back to the Middle English word tough or tuff. This Middle English term originally meant difficult or hard to do. It further originated from the Old Norse word tóf, meaning difficult, and can be connected to Proto-Germanic origins as well. Over time, the meaning of tough expanded to include qualities such as strength, resilience, and durability. The suffix -ish is added to form toughish, which implies a lesser degree or approximation of the toughness described by the word tough.