hard-hitting

adjective

hard-hit·​ting ˈhärd-ˈhi-tiŋ 

: strikingly effective in force or result

a hard-hitting exposé

plain hard-hitting English

Examples of hard-hitting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Put into bat, Afghanistan had got off to a poor start – hard-hitting Rahmanullah Gurbaz was out for a two-ball duck to Jasprit Bumrah. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026

In Saratoga that translated to humorous/hard-hitting spears tossed at Led Zeppelin, Neil Young and even The Who’s own late great bassist John Entwistle. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2026

The hard-hitting defensive back can play both safety and nickel corner and should start at one of those two spots (with Bryce Fitzgerald starting at the other of the two positions). — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

The hard-hitting senior from Mississippi started all 15 games for the Crimson Tide last season and earned second-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association. — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard-hitting

• acquitting
• admitting
• befitting
• committing
• emitting
• omitting
• outfitting
• outwitting
• permitting
• refitting
• remitting
• submitting