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
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Recent Examples of hard-bitten
Her hard-bitten, cynical persona provides a nice juxtaposition to how maudlin so much commentary about motherhood can be.
—
Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
But the sentiments are the razors in the apples: hard-bitten, painful, wise from disappointment, and braced for the next crisis.
—Spin Team, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
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
Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
But the sentiments are the razors in the apples: hard-bitten, painful, wise from disappointment, and braced for the next crisis.
—Spin Team, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
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
Adjective
-
If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Granite boulders and undulating rock formations surrounded by namesake Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) majestically reside among nearly 800 species of plants, from annually blooming wildflowers, to hardy bushes and palms, to 15 types of colorful and peculiar cacti.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Only hardy souls would venture down this path.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Neighbors are now calling for a stronger police presence beyond the campus itself.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The yen touched its strongest level since October in US trading Tuesday after comments from Japanese officials, including just recently the finance minister, fueled speculation that the government may intervene in the market to prevent the currency from resuming its decline.—
Mia Glass,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Excavators working at a rugged eastern Oregon ranch recently uncovered evidence of Chinese immigrants working as cowboys — a role rarely associated with the American West.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Inspired by Montana’s rugged landscape, Grant Achatz of Michelin two-star Alinea in Chicago chose Big Sky for his restaurant’s 20th-anniversary world tour (Tokyo, Beverly Hills, Brooklyn, and Miami were also stops).—
Amy Tara Koch,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Going through a severe injury is probably the toughest thing an athlete can go through.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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More companies are dialing back flexible work schedules and mandating that employees return to the office part-time or full-time, forcing women into tough situations.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The greatest concern, however, is over the Ghwayran Prison in al-Hasakah, where thousands of hardened ISIS inmates are still being held.—
Omar Abdulkader,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Gro-Low sumac performs best in full sun and tolerates partial shade, but will become less vigorous as the shade deepens.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
For many patients, vigorous physical activity isn’t realistic during treatment.—
Avi Patel,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, the Bucks fired him, as the team’s stout defense collapsed (no duh) with Holiday gone.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Wolverines defense has been stout all over the field with an anchor between the posts in junior Jackson Friedman.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-bitten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-bitten. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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