hard 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhärd How to pronounce hard (audio)
Definition of hardnext
1
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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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass

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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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hard work
arduous work
tough work
hard feelings
bitter feelings
hurtful feelings
hateful feelings
hostile feelings
strained feelings
a hard surface
a solid surface
a firm surface
a stiff surface
a durable surface
a tough surface
a hard time
a tough time
a difficult time
a rough time
a grueling time
an arduous time
hard choices
tough choices
difficult choices
complicated choices
impossible choices
daunting choices

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

Examples of hard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series. —Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023 Die-hard Chiefs fan Paul Rudd was on the field before the game, sporting a big smile and a team jersey. —Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2023
Adverb
Historically distilleries have been owned by or sometimes even employed generations of families, but there are plenty of jobs to be had for newcomers eager to work hard or willing to take a third shift. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 22 Sep. 2024 Dakota Johnson works hard, but her Gucci lace bodysuit works harder. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hard 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Phrases Containing hard

Thesaurus Entries Near hard

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 7 Oct. 2024.

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