hard-bitten

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈbi-tᵊn How to pronounce hard-bitten (audio)
Definition of hard-bittennext
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure a hard-bitten Apache chief who could endure the scorching heat of the Arizona desert

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-bitten Alaska has devolved into a colony of big oil, and its politics have become so closed, hard-bitten, and strident. — Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-bitten
  1. sturdy
  2. hardy
  3. strong
  4. rugged
  5. tough
  6. hardened
  7. vigorous
  8. stout
Adjective
  • The outdoorsy traveler hiking the gorges in Crete or the trails in Andros should bring a pair of sturdy shoes, a hat for sun protection, and tons of SPF.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 27 July 2026
  • December 22 – January 19 A home or family issue may need a sturdier foundation, not another temporary fix.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • From flowering to evergreen, these hardy shrubs deliver seasonal interest and texture—without demanding constant care.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 July 2026
  • According to their findings detailed in a study published today in The ISME Journal, everything from tiny worms, to hardy tardigrades, to even rock-eating fungi build a vast, complex ecosystem below the Earth’s surface.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 July 2026
Definition of hardy
Adjective
  • This is a strong day to pitch, perform, flirt, draft, or share something that feels alive.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
  • While heavy foreign equity selling earlier this year weighed on the won, Goldman said those outflows have slowed, allowing the currency's strong external fundamentals to reassert themselves.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Commercials showed off sleek and imposing vehicles with four-wheel drive going off-roading through rugged terrain, adding some aspiration to a Tuesday night baseball practice pick-up .
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
  • With the pole still lodged in his body, Cifaldi and his friends began the more than 10-mile trek back down the mountain, navigating rugged terrain including snowfields and boulder fields.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026
Definition of rugged
Adjective
  • The city's local Democratic lawmakers claim that the tough-on-crime policies only temporarily reduced crime while troop presence was at its peak.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Lopez and multiple bullpen arms got out of tough jams to limit the Red Sox 16 baserunners across the first nine innings to just two runs, only one earned.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Some years later John emerges, hardened and singularly focused on revenge.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Graham's kind is the common one, driven by age, blood pressure, and hardened arteries.
    — Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of hardened
Adjective
  • Hours before the buck moon, tender Venus in Virgo and vigorous Mars in Gemini face off, manifesting drama with others.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 27 July 2026
  • Also, keep the plants vigorous with fertilizer applications once or twice a year.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • The result is a bulbous body atop four skinny legs, scraggly fur and a stout head with little to no neck.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 21 July 2026
  • De la Fuente wisely shifted to a more tiki-taka-esque focus with a stout defense moving forward and hoped that his wingers would get healthy as the tournament progressed.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of stout

Browse Nearby Words

hardbacks
hard-bitten
hard-boiled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard-bitten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-bitten. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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