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

If wearing jeans on the plane seems like a hard sell, wearing white jeans on the plane may take even more convincing—but according to Fass, the look needn’t be high-maintenance. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Plum, 32, will likely get the hard sell from Phoenix after the Mercury surrendered a first-round pick and Monique Akoa Makani to acquire her. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Oddly enough, Wicker might have been considered a hard sell until Colman jumped on board as its lead star and executive producer. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Peptide therapy has mostly meant injections, which is a hard sell for anyone squeamish about needles or juggling a busy routine. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard sell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel