What synonym could describe a material that can endure energy absorption before deforming completely?

A material that can absorb energy before undergoing significant deformation is best described as tough. Toughness is a property that indicates how much energy a material can absorb prior to fracturing. This includes the ability to withstand stress and absorb energy through deformation without breaking, making tough materials desirable in applications where impact resistance is crucial.

In contrast, elastic refers to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after deformation, which does not capture the idea of energy absorption leading to significant deformation. Homogeneous describes materials that have a uniform composition throughout, which does not relate to energy absorption or deformation characteristics. Ductile materials are those that can undergo substantial plastic deformation before breaking, but toughness encompasses both the ability to absorb energy and resist fracture more comprehensively than ductility alone. Thus, tough is indeed the most accurate descriptor in this context.