1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hardness
The hardness of the food and the strength of the beak also influence what a bird eats.
—
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Combined with the material’s monocrystalline hardness—which resists deformation and produces an ethereal, resonant tone—this construction gives Chopard’s sonneries their unmistakable symphony.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025
Li, a writer whose stories are compressed and deceptively simple, spoke with humor and a certain hardness, perhaps born of the clarity of unimaginable loss.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Its unmatched hardness makes tungsten carbide essential for drill bits, cutting tools, and mining machinery that endure heavy wear.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Combined with the material’s monocrystalline hardness—which resists deformation and produces an ethereal, resonant tone—this construction gives Chopard’s sonneries their unmistakable symphony.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025
Li, a writer whose stories are compressed and deceptively simple, spoke with humor and a certain hardness, perhaps born of the clarity of unimaginable loss.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Its unmatched hardness makes tungsten carbide essential for drill bits, cutting tools, and mining machinery that endure heavy wear.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness
Noun
-
Borrowers in especially difficult financial circumstances can look into options to pause their payments altogether, such as through the economic hardship deferment or unemployment deferment.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
-
As with this trilogy’s previous installment, Depardon here depicts the hardships ofthe modern farmer with empathy but also a wry knowingness regarding the changing of the times.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Several people were treated for injuries of varying severity, including the train driver, who died after being assisted by the first responders.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The trail system features three destinations—Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools—each increasing in distance and difficulty.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Letlow's entrance into the race, and the president's backing, is expected to create difficulties for Senate GOP leaders.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
