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
Key drivers include a shortage of affordable housing, economic hardship, limited federal funding for schools and long-standing inequities affecting people of color and people with disabilities.
—
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Next, Woods can apply for a waiver hearing and get what’s called a hardship license by enrolling in DUI school.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Victim impact statements submitted to the court detailed the toll of the scheme, with individuals describing financial devastation, emotional distress and long-term hardship.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Transportation Security Administration officers have been working for weeks without pay at airports amid a partial government shutdown, and the hardship is forcing some of them to turn to other work to pay their bills.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardship
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Next, Woods can apply for a waiver hearing and get what’s called a hardship license by enrolling in DUI school.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Victim impact statements submitted to the court detailed the toll of the scheme, with individuals describing financial devastation, emotional distress and long-term hardship.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Transportation Security Administration officers have been working for weeks without pay at airports amid a partial government shutdown, and the hardship is forcing some of them to turn to other work to pay their bills.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardship
difficulty
Noun
-
There is no hint of condescension in her writing, which is part of its difficulty and its power.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The band members have left their Latter-day Saint upbringing behind, but Oli doesn’t downplay the difficulty of that decision.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardship. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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