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.
The hard sell of battery projects can also strengthen pushback. Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 Paris doesn’t need a hard sell, but most visitors waste precious time bouncing between neighborhoods without a plan. Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026 Green beans aren't usually a hard sell. Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026 But that would be a hard sell to me. William Mersey, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 2026.

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