Entry Word: hardly

Function: adverb

Meaning: 1 in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering <the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders>

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

Related Words callously, cold-bloodedly, hardheartedly, heartlessly, inhumanely, inhumanly, insensately, insensitively, mercilessly, obdurately, pitilessly, ruthlessly, tyrannically, uncharitably, unfeelingly, unmercifully, unsparingly; abusively, brutally, 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 <itʼs hardly surprising that our team won, considering how weak the opponents were>

Synonyms 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, mighty, most, quite, terribly, very; assuredly, clearly, perfectly, plainly, positively, 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 <donʼt worry about shaving just yet—your beard is hardly there!> — see just 2
4 with feelings of bitterness or grief <his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly> — see hard 2
5 with great effort or determination <their state championship was hardly won, and the basketball players were going to enjoy their victory to the fullest> — see hard 1