toughminedness
“tough-mindedness” is a noun formed from the root “tough” and suffixes “-minded” and “-ness”. It is syllabified as tou-gh-mi-ne-dness, with primary stress on the third syllable. The silent 'gh' in 'tough' is a key orthographic feature. The word’s structure is similar to other -ness nouns like “kindness” and “boldness”, but differs in the complexity of its root.
Definitions
- 1
The quality of being resolute, determined, and pragmatic; a firm and uncompromising disposition.
“Her tough-mindedness helped her overcome numerous obstacles.”
“The negotiator's tough-mindedness was essential to reaching a favorable agreement.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('mi-ne-**dness**').
Syllables
tou — Open syllable, vowel sound /ʌ/.. gh — Consonant cluster functioning as a single sound.. mi — Open syllable, diphthong /aɪ/.. ne — Closed syllable, short vowel /ɪ/.. dness — Closed syllable, vowel /ə/.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllables are often divided after vowels, especially when followed by consonants.
Silent Letter Rule
Silent letters do not typically create separate syllables.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
- The silent 'gh' in 'tough' is a historical spelling feature.
- The pronunciation of 'tough' as /tʌf/ is crucial for accurate syllabification.
- The suffix '-ness' is consistently treated as a single syllable unit.
Nearby Words
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