as in difficulty
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
working two jobs was a hardship he was willing to endure to get out of debt
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Recent Examples of hardship
The book, part memoir and part self-help, delves into his experience coming out to his family while also providing concrete tips for moving through hardship and starting over.
—
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2014, roughly 57,000 metroplex adults over the age of 65 faced hardship in retirement.
—Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Despite these claims, Venezuela continues to experience prolonged instability marked by economic collapse, political turmoil, and widespread hardship, even amid reports surrounding Nicolás Maduro’s capture in early January.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardship
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2014, roughly 57,000 metroplex adults over the age of 65 faced hardship in retirement.
—Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Despite these claims, Venezuela continues to experience prolonged instability marked by economic collapse, political turmoil, and widespread hardship, even amid reports surrounding Nicolás Maduro’s capture in early January.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardship
difficulty
Noun
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Elon Musk believes the best way to solve the difficulties of building AI data centers on earth is to move them into outer space.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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For applicants who have limited digital literacy, no home internet or difficulties navigating online portals, this type of in-person help can shorten enrollment time significantly.—
William Jones,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardship. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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