hard sell

noun

: aggressive high-pressure salesmanship compare soft sell

Examples of hard sell in a Sentence

Such an expensive project will be a hard sell during these slow economic times.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Yet public dissatisfaction over migration and political pressure from far-right gains throughout Europe make Allen’s proposals a hard sell. Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 Tariffs could be 'hard sell' in election year How obedient will the congressional GOP be to Trump in an election year? Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026 There are hard sells, and then there’s what Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona gave first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026 Was this initiative a hard sell to league officials and team owners? Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard sell

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard sell was in 1945

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard sell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20sell. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster