hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship 

1

: privation, suffering

recovering from financial hardship

2

: something that causes or entails suffering or privation

the hardships of life on the frontier

Synonyms of hardship

• difficulty

Examples of hardship in a Sentence

He had suffered through considerable hardship.

The city has been experiencing a period of financial hardship.

They had to endure the hardships of life on the frontier.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Zimbabwean social media, some people openly celebrated his death, citing his wealth and political connections as reasons for their anger over the country's economic hardships and claims surrounding his business dealings. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

Seek out additional resources Looking into additional resources such as food banks, SNAP or hardship help programs in your area can be helpful, Rathner said. — Adriana Morga, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

It is better understood as a symptom of political exhaustion and vulnerability following years of division, economic hardship, and war. — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026

Her post included a pair of Biblical verses that encourage Christians to persevere through hardship. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship 

1

: pain entry 1 sense 2a, privation

2

: something that causes pain or loss