hard-fought
adjective
1
: requiring a lot of effort or hard work
He won a hard-fought campaign for reelection.
2
: achieved or acquired through a lot of effort or hard work
a hard-fought victory/triumph
Examples of hard-fought in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After weeks of hard-fought — at times nasty — campaigning, Boca Raton residents had their say on Tuesday, reflected in the relatively large numbers of voters appearing at the polls to shape the city’s future.
—
Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
The contest was hard-fought throughout, with Memorial holding a 16-13 lead after one quarter of p thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Payton Jones.
—Robert Thomas, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Two of the victories early in district play were extremely hard-fought.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Measles cases had reached a record low in 2004 but were starting to trend up again, just a few years after the US had achieved elimination following a long and hard-fought battle.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
The district is one of the richest in the country and bluest in New York, but the primary is one shaping up to be hard-fought.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Talarico’s numbers are notable and underscore the Senate Democratic primary will be hard-fought as the party eyes the chance to flip a Senate seat in the Lone Star State.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
The flag, a symbol of the tribe’s long and hard-fought sovereignty, the ways its people have given to the Elk Grove community, and ties to land that date back, in Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen’s remarks, to time immemorial, launches the city’s commemoration of Native American Heritage Month.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The series was extremely hard-fought, as both teams truly left it all on the field across the seven games.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
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Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
The contest was hard-fought throughout, with Memorial holding a 16-13 lead after one quarter of p thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Payton Jones.
—Robert Thomas, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Two of the victories early in district play were extremely hard-fought.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
Measles cases had reached a record low in 2004 but were starting to trend up again, just a few years after the US had achieved elimination following a long and hard-fought battle.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
The district is one of the richest in the country and bluest in New York, but the primary is one shaping up to be hard-fought.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Talarico’s numbers are notable and underscore the Senate Democratic primary will be hard-fought as the party eyes the chance to flip a Senate seat in the Lone Star State.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
The flag, a symbol of the tribe’s long and hard-fought sovereignty, the ways its people have given to the Elk Grove community, and ties to land that date back, in Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen’s remarks, to time immemorial, launches the city’s commemoration of Native American Heritage Month.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The series was extremely hard-fought, as both teams truly left it all on the field across the seven games.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-fought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-fought. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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