Synonyms of hard
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as in difficult 
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as in ruthless
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as in sturdy
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as in reasonable
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as in tough
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as in intense
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as in strict
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as in solid
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as in stable
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as in sore
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as in stubborn
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as in historical
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as in intensively
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as in bitterly
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as in strongly
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as in close
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as in harshly
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard
Lily Bunker, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Winter can be hard on new trees and shrubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Viewers might have thought the words sounded familiar, but hard to exactly place.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
For most first-timers visiting Brazil, the buzzy energy of Rio de Janeiro and the iconic vistas of Iguazú Falls are hard to resist.
—Lily Bunker, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Winter can be hard on new trees and shrubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Still harder to prove, Jackson said, are the counts of assault on a peace officer stemming from the laser strikes, arguing that Farzam would not or could not have known what kind of aircraft was flying at the time.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Viewers might have thought the words sounded familiar, but hard to exactly place.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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Cue, Helm’s first rejection, abandonment, difficult emotions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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This character was actually quite difficult for me.—
Gavin J Blair,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Those hoping to snatch a home in this busy period faced limited options on the market, as the country’s developers had chronically underbuilt compared to demand in the years following the subprime mortgage crisis, leading to ruthless bidding wars and climbing home values.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Hedda orchestrates a ruthless game of manipulation, where lust, jealousy and betrayal collide.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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The shearling is still fluffy, and the soles are sturdy.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The full selection, including Bib Gourmand restaurants (an honor that highlights restaurants offering high-quality food at reasonable prices), recognizes 228 restaurants spanning 44 cuisine types, shining a national and international spotlight on the varied cuisines and talented chefs of the South.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Penguins have a pretty reasonable amount of depth on the blue line, especially on the right side, which would make that move easier to absorb.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The family dynamics of the show hadn’t been seen in any other franchise and made for some strong alliances against other members of the cast, as well as intense drama.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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In an intense Instagram post Thursday, her 44th, the mother of three included various family album style photos over the last few years, plus some words of wisdom.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Senior officials said that Medicare beneficiaries seeking coverage for GLP-1 drugs for obesity would have to meet strict eligibility criteria and that these would follow Make America Healthier Again principles to address chronic disease risk factors.—
Alice Park,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Beyond the major races, Democrats swept state Supreme Court contests in Pennsylvania and won ballot initiatives in Colorado and Maine, where voters approved gun safety measures and rejected stricter voter ID laws.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Scott Parker’s team possess all of the qualities that Vincent Kompany’s side lacked — a solid defensive foundation, togetherness, fighting spirit, and valuable top-flight experience led by example from defender Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Certain closet staples are well worth investing in, but finding comparable styles at a more affordable price point can make building a solid seasonal wardrobe more realistic.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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