hard 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhärd How to pronounce hard (audio)
Definition of hardnext
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass

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2
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone

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3
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate

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4
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?

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5
as in tough
difficult to endure the hard life of a migrant farm worker

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6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect a carpet that withstood years of hard wear

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7
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules

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8
as in solid
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure hard candies fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm

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9
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong

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10
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him

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11
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path

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12
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others

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hard

2 of 2

adverb

1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination we took a much-needed break after working hard all week a hard-won victory

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2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief took the news of their grandfather's death hard

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3
as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds the wind blew hard all day

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4
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse

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5
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word hard different from other adjectives like it?

The words arduous and difficult are common synonyms of hard. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

In what contexts can arduous take the place of hard?

In some situations, the words arduous and hard are roughly equivalent. However, arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

When would difficult be a good substitute for hard?

The words difficult and hard can be used in similar contexts, but difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.

the difficult ascent of the mountain

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hard
Adjective
Mundy, King and Lindelof share with us their theories on why Green Lantern is hard to crack, in addition to its appeal. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026 The harder part, the real challenge, will be changing the culture. — Bethany Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Most of the deaths (about 921) and damage occurred in the city of Armenia, in western Colombia’s mountainous coffee-growing region, which has also been one of the hardest hit by today’s quake. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Since then, the school has been working hard in preparation for students' return, with the first week of school kicking off this week. — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
  1. difficult
  2. ruthless
  3. sturdy
  4. reasonable
  5. tough
  6. intense
  7. strict
  8. solid
Adjective
  • The shortcomings of Usman and Dvalishvili, future Hall of Famers, only point to how difficult the historic mark was to reach.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Teamsters have been enthusiastically endorsing the bill specifically because, while 40-something employers would be difficult to collectively bargain against, DSP workers would be much easier to organize once within Amazon.
    — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • For Arsenal, the mission to create their best possible squad for depth and quality requires some upgrades in certain areas, and Berta won’t mind being ruthless if a sacrifice here leads to a new crowning there.
    — Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Her portrayal of Abby Cunningham on Knots Landing helped define the prime-time soap’s appeal, with the character’s romances becoming just as talked about as her ruthless ambition.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Stidham with a sturdy opening act There may not have been another Broncos player who was more eager to get on the field Friday night than Stidham.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • What starts as a reasonable desire to prevent disease can escalate into constant testing and rigid routines built around an ever-growing roster of supplements and experimental remedies.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The argument about competition against girl athletes is a reasonable one, though apparently very limited in number of events and any advantages.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • Coventry, for example, face Manchester City away in Gameweek Three, while some of the teams worth targeting early like Manchester United, Chelsea and Sunderland have tougher fixtures in Gameweeks Three or Four.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This summer has seen a confluence of challenges, including excessive heat that allows food contamination to grow and a pathogen that’s particularly tough to pin down.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • These could include intense earthquake swarms, rapid ground deformation, changing gas emissions, and unusual heat flow.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Footage aired by local media showed massive flames and fireballs erupting from the tank, with black and orange smoke rising in the sky as firefighters spray what appears to be foam or water in efforts to quench the intense fire.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Beijing's core motivation is maintaining strict capital controls; a freely transferable yuan token would undermine this.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The company said that its advanced production lines operate at 95% automation, using thousands of checkpoints to guarantee strict quality control.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • There's some solid Santa Maria-style BBQ tri-tip, as well as Tex Mex classics like nachos and quesadillas alongside a variety of burgers and fries.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook and Alex Toth are solid rotation options in midfield.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of solid

Phrases Containing hard

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harbors
hard
hard-and-fast
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Cite this Entry

“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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