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
The scenes were hard to watch inside MetLife Stadium on Sunday as Brazilian fans were seen in tears toward the end of the match, many leaving early in a sign of complete resignation. — Doha Madani, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Uncertainty is harder because the probabilities are not fully knowable in advance. — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Adverb
That second step is the hard part, and it’s made harder still by the fact that problems with classical proofs might still use quantum computers for their proof-checking procedures (or algorithms). — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2026 Failing to follow your state's legal requirements could make the agreement harder to enforce. — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 6 July 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
  • Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Communism’s pure economic theory is now rarely practiced anywhere — even if ruthless leaders in hybrid capitalist economies like China and Russia have retained the authoritarian iron fists of their predecessors.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Otherwise, Kail sticks closely to the template established for him, recreating every scene and sequence from the first movie with ruthless fidelity and adding essentially no departures of any significance.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • For your safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 July 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • Part of what’s at work is a reasonable desire to give a party with more than its share of grizzled congressional veterans a jolt of youthful energy.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • This week prosecutors need only demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds to believe Robinson killed Kirk.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • Treating fear and anxiety in dogs doesn’t always require a bigger yard or a more intense exercise routine.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Without stricter coordination, brightness limits, debris controls, disposal rules, and international capacity planning, the next space race could damage the orbital lanes on which modern life now depends.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
  • Not a whole lot, admittedly, since there was reportedly a strict no-phone policy for guests (as well as event staff and security).
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • This upgrade package also includes the more powerful P160C solid-fuel boosters introduced in June and a lighter upper stage structure.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
  • As business brokers tell it, the type of companies that millennials are now eagerly snapping up are smaller firms with recurring revenue, a solid customer base, expertise in a niche market, and books that are in order.
    — Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 10 July 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 13 Jul. 2026.

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