as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
despite being undeniably hard up, they had too much pride to accept charity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard up
Obviously someone who loses their job and is really hard up for cash will give serious thought to canceling or pausing subscriptions.
—
Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Over the last two seasons, he’s figured out how to throw the ball hard up to left-handed hitters for weak contact and to their back foot for swing-and-miss.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
However, the typical Planet Organic shopper isn’t likely to be that hard up.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 July 2024
They’ve been hit particularly hard up front on offense and need youth.
—Brad Biggs, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hard up
Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Over the last two seasons, he’s figured out how to throw the ball hard up to left-handed hitters for weak contact and to their back foot for swing-and-miss.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
However, the typical Planet Organic shopper isn’t likely to be that hard up.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 July 2024
They’ve been hit particularly hard up front on offense and need youth.
—Brad Biggs, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hard up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard up
Adjective
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The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The film, which world premiered in the Berlinale’s Perspectives sidebar, follows an impoverished but determined family put to test when the father, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is accused of murder.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
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Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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If only every actor could find the chance to to exercise such go-for-broke freedom.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
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Continue reading … NOT SO 'POPULAR' – Former 'Wicked' star reveals backlash over Charlie Kirk comments 'nearly broke' her.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard%20up. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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