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
Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
The hardest part of this recipe is just opening the cans.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
As Peter Seidler said of adding on to a mature roster, sometimes there’s a risk to not pushing harder.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
But just how much bone tissue gets made depends on how hard those osteoblasts have to work during key times in a child’s development.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
The hardest part of this recipe is just opening the cans.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
How does Mick Cronin survive this, sending his own player off the court after hustling hard on defense to get a piece of the ball but unfortunately too much contact and drew a foul.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
As Peter Seidler said of adding on to a mature roster, sometimes there’s a risk to not pushing harder.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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But having dodged the traps of the social media news era, The Economist now faces looming long-term structural challenges that may be more difficult to avoid.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Frontflips are generally more difficult than backflips for both humans and robots.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The helmet’s symbolism directs the world to the atrocities being committed upon an innocent, sovereign nation undergoing ruthless destruction.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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During this ruthless era, famous women were sorted into a stringent binary.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Better Homes & Gardens Ezra Outdoor Adirondack Chair There are few chairs more classic and durable than an Adirondack chair, and this under-$200 sturdy option is one to add to your front porch, deck, or backyard.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
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One of the world’s sturdiest planes, a C-130, was on standby at Rawalpindi air base to ferry the body to the man’s village.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The prosecution detailed nine separate errors made by Plamberger during the climb—from failing to bring bivy gear to failing to abide by a reasonable turnaround time—which collectively suggest a charge of gross negligence.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
21 Feb. 2026
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Counties with moratoriums Counties use moratoriums to buy time to write new zoning and regulation for wind and solar farms, sometimes to craft reasonable laws and sometimes to craft bans.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Takaichi has proposed tougher policies on immigration and foreigners, something that resonates with a growing frustration in Japan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Bryant was tough to stop and scored nine of her 23 points in the first quarter.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The mild meats and cheeses should be consumed first, with diners gradually moving on to the most intense ones so as to not overpower the more delicate flavors.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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As Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance nears one month, the intense focus on her case is drawing overdue attention to other missing person cases that have long gone unnoticed.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For now, the Supreme Court ruling has effectively installed a strict near-term ceiling on trade barriers, substantially neutralizing the threat of runaway tariff escalation.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Leger Fernández pointed to a strict voter identification bill, known as the SAVE America Act, that Democrats have warned would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters, including women who have changed their last names after getting married.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Modular design enables multiple launch platforms HAVOC features a modular architecture that allows integration with various solid rocket motor boosters.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
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With the next round of debuts and sophomore shows, their houses need solid creative foundations to further recover from the luxury slowdown.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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