hardly

hardly

adverb

Definition of HARDLY

1

in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders>

Synonyms brutally, hard, harshly, ill, oppressively, roughly, severely, sternly, stiffly

Related Words callously, cold-bloodedly, hard-heartedly, heartlessly, inhumanely, inhumanly, insensately, insensitively, mercilessly, obdurately, pitilessly, ruthlessly, tyrannically, uncharitably, unfeelingly, unmercifully, unsparingly; abusively, brutishly, savagely, viciously; aggressively, assertively, decidedly, determinedly, firmly, grimly, gruffly, resolutely, strongly, toughly

Near Antonyms benevolently, benignantly, considerately, cordially, graciously, kindly, lovingly, tenderly; charitably, compassionately, humanely, mercifully, softheartedly, sympathetically, tolerantly, understandingly

Antonyms clemently, gently, leniently, lightly, mildly, softly

2

certainly not <I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager>

Synonyms ill, no, none, no way, scarcely

Related Words near, never, nothing, nowhere, nowise

Phrases by no means, nothing doing, on no account

Near Antonyms awful, awfully, enormously, exceedingly (also exceeding), extremely, greatly, highly, hugely, immensely, mightily, mighty, most, quite, terribly, very; assuredly, clearly, hands down, perfectly, plainly, really, truly, unequivocally, unquestionably, utterly; doubtless, more or less, mostly, rather, slightly, somewhat

Antonyms absolutely, certainly, completely, definitely, positively, surely

3

by a very small margin <we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in>

Synonyms barely, hardly, marginally, narrowly, scarcely, slightly

Related Words minimally, minutely, scantly; almost, approximately, closely, more or less, nearly, partly, plus or minus, roughly, somewhat

Near Antonyms definitely, easily, plainly, positively, quite, unquestionably; abundantly, completely, copiously, fully, generously, greatly

Antonyms considerably, significantly, substantially, vastly, well

4

with feelings of bitterness or grief <his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly>

Synonyms agonizingly, bitterly, dolefully, dolorously, grievously, hardly, inconsolably, lugubriously, mournfully, painfully, plaintively, regretfully, resentfully, ruefully, sadly, sorely, sorrowfully, unhappily, wailfully, woefully, wretchedly

Related Words abjectly, cheerlessly, crestfallenly, dejectedly, despairingly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, downheartedly, low-spiritedly; blackly, darkly, dismally, distressfully, distressingly, dourly, drearily, forlornly, gloomily, glumly, joylessly, mirthlessly, miserably, morosely, pessimistically, somberly, sullenly; acutely, harshly, keenly, piercingly, poignantly, severely, sharply; cruelly, hurtfully, ill, rancorously

Near Antonyms cheerfully, cheerily, delightedly, gaily (also gayly), gleefully, good-naturedly, lightheartedly, merrily, mirthfully, rejoicingly, sunnily; blithely, blithesomely, calmly, casually, dispassionately, easily, impassively, indifferently, lightly, nonchalantly, stoically, unconcernedly; favorably, well

Antonyms blissfully, gladly, happily, joyfully, joyously

5

with great effort or determination <the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams>

Synonyms amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hardly, industriously, intensely, intensively, intently, laboriously, mightily, purposefully, resolutely, sedulously, slavishly, strenuously

Related Words actively, animatedly, briskly, busily, dynamically, energetically, feverishly, spiritedly, vehemently, vigorously, zealously; continuously, ploddingly, steadfastly, steadily, unabatedly, unrelentingly, unremittingly; ardently, attentively, conscientiously, earnestly, exhaustively, meticulously, painstakingly, seriously, thoroughly; indefatigably, tirelessly, unflaggingly, untiringly, wearilessly; obstinately, stubbornly, willfully

Near Antonyms casually, desultorily, halfheartedly, indolently, lackadaisically, languidly, lazily, listlessly, shiftlessly, sluggishly, spiritlessly, tiredly, wearily