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 adamant
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
The Seahawks are the champs, and Lumen Field on a Monday night is still one of the hardest road trips in the league. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026 But even in just the last few months, that information has become harder to find. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026
Adverb
There were the other kids in my grade who were not, like, degenerates, but didn’t try hard and were disruptive. — Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026 Fording says that in response, Alabamians fought hard leading up to the midterms to mobilize Black voters for Democrats. — Connor Greene, Time, 8 Nov. 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 pilot must compensate manually using the controller, which can be difficult if the aircraft is far away or difficult to see.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The chocolatey all-suede style was first released in October 2023 and has become increasingly difficult to track down over the years, with certain sizes commanding premium prices on the secondary market.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Why would Trump choose to support Putin in his ruthless efforts in Ukraine?
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The stump itself won’t damage buried water lines, per se, but the roots can be ruthless with pipes.
    — Steven John, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • Made of sturdy beech wood, rounded edges and a light hue soften the beverage cart’s overall look.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Guardian’s April 2025 reporting describes the classic design as a roomy jacket made from sturdy cotton twill or moleskin, typically featuring three patch pockets and a simple collar.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • March 21 – April 19 Someone else’s disappointment could make a reasonable decision feel surprisingly difficult.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Aries March 21 – April 19 Someone else’s disappointment could make a reasonable decision feel surprisingly difficult.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • With the balance of power in Tallahassee at stake, Miami’s Republican state senators fended off tough challenges Tuesday night, while Democratic candidates flipped several South Florida state House seats for the minority party in Florida’s capital.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Whoever wins the contest will be stepping into one of the California’s toughest political jobs.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The normally quiet state race became the focus on intense scrutiny because of a pattern of incendiary remarks by French, the former Tarrant County GOP chair.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Lara faced intense scrutiny and criticism during his eight years in office from Californians frustrated by rising prices, fewer options and how their claims were handled.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • There’s no doubt that there are wasteful contracts and bloated salaries to be cut, but not even the strictest economizing could absorb that much without serious danger to public health and safety.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Democrats made high power bills, clean energy and stricter scrutiny of data center contracts the focus on their races.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Precincts with more votes cast per square mile appear more solid, with areas with lower voter density fade to white.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The sushi was solid and the cocktail program felt thoughtful and exciting.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of solid

Phrases Containing hard

Browse Nearby Words

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 10 Nov. 2026.

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