as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
With the aprons threatening, the Magic front office will be hard-pressed to maintain its roster depth for the long term.
—
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 16 June 2025
After all that, the B’s would be hard-pressed to sign more than one impact free agent and maybe another complimentary player.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Anyone would be hard-pressed to argue that those increases by Democratic officeholders have produced breakthroughs on the state’s most-pressing issues.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
The Yankees and Red Sox may be hard-pressed to replicate the end of Game 1 between the Thunder and Pacers when Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winner with three-tenths of a second.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 16 June 2025
After all that, the B’s would be hard-pressed to sign more than one impact free agent and maybe another complimentary player.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Anyone would be hard-pressed to argue that those increases by Democratic officeholders have produced breakthroughs on the state’s most-pressing issues.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
The Yankees and Red Sox may be hard-pressed to replicate the end of Game 1 between the Thunder and Pacers when Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winner with three-tenths of a second.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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Viewers on TikTok were amazed by the finding in the viral clip, with several perplexed by what the previous owners covered the floor with.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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The ruling followed a tense hearing last week during which Wilson grilled Keenan, appearing increasingly perplexed at the government’s logic in offering Kirk a deal.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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What baffled doctors, however, was that the bone was not lodged in her throat but buried in the muscle tissue of her neck.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
3 July 2025
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Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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A couple was left bewildered after discovering an unfamiliar cat helping itself to their own pet's food in a now-viral TikTok video that has left viewers on the platform in hysterics.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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Officials in other places that had voted overwhelmingly for President Trump but were far from the front lines of the immigration debate were simply bewildered.—
Campbell Robertson,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Pastor Richard Reynolds told parents not be embarrassed asking for help from the community.—
Matthew Cupelli,
IndyStar,
5 July 2025
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Sailor's owner, Abigail Crouch, 24, was left feeling rather embarrassed when her adorable vigilante had to be carried out of the building by the doorman, Eric.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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