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
Practicing being hard to reach tends to shift (if not sour) some of one’s relationships. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026 This yearly bottleneck worsens as changing fee structures make costs hard to predict. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Adverb
However, that stiffness can make physical interactions harder to manage, especially when objects move unpredictably or require a softer touch. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 Like its hyperscaler peers, Oracle works hard to secure all three in healthy quantities. — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 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
  • Performances across the board are strong, even if the characterizations themselves are more difficult to embrace.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Making short-haul rail more competitive Parallel argues that its system could open routes that are currently difficult for conventional rail services to serve economically, particularly journeys under 500 miles.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Sure, that sounds ridiculous for a season about rape, infidelity, mass murder, suicide, and society’s ruthless commodification of those very things.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In part, Iran’s political system and ruthless crackdown on protest has given it some insulation from the economic destruction imposed by the blockade and sanctions.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • The play, like a sturdy classic that Sheldon might love, runs over two hours with an intermission, not without dragging.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Flavors of plum, dark chocolate, and blueberry are supported by sturdy, yet silky tannins and the finish goes on for what seems like days.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • Does being embraced by the Nashville industry feel like a reasonable goal?
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This Dell Pro Tower loadout is on sale for 33% off, bringing it down to a very reasonable $800.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • Now, Germino says her social media presence is all about giving other patients going through the same tough decision an example of someone who’s thriving after the procedure.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's administration is about to start tough budget negotiations against a backdrop of division and economic turmoil.
    — Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Through it all, Pi-o and Jeong-yo’s intense, often tender relationship serves as a throughline, bringing many viewers to question if the Netflix series qualifies as a boys’ love (aka BL) drama.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Castle of Oia is also lovely—though the sunset-seeking crowds can be intense.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Swift intervention reversed their decline after Aldabra was designated a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The great innovator of fashion photography, the revolutionary, was also a strict traditionalist.
    — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Officials at the meeting discussed the rise in yields, attributing them to expectations for higher rates from the Fed as well as the build-out in artificial intelligence and solid economic growth.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • All of these features sit on a durable Goodyear® Performance Outsole, so from the heel to the toe and from the top to the bottom, their feet are in for a solid, supportive run.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 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 Oct. 2026.

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