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
Relevance
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
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
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
-
Seek shelter in a sturdy structure until the storm has passed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
This hardy winter plant family doesn’t like to share.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
-
Aside from delighting the taste buds of curious tourists and hardy locals alike, lobster contributes more than $1 billion to the state’s economy.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
But despite a strong sporting heritage, Panama struggled to translate their success to the football pitch.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Most other Sacramento-area incumbents cruised to strong leads in their legislative races.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Even the most rugged campers still need their phones for maps, weather updates, and emergencies.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
Mammoth Overland just unveiled an ultra-rugged, off-road trailer called the Xtinction Level Escape.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
With the when, where and who will play whom at the 2026 World Cup all locked in, how do the groups rank from the easiest to the toughest?—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
Opening a restaurant in downtown Boise is a tough racket.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The story began with Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, getting hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
That even once took two hardened ex-pros and pundits, Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist, by surprise before a game that William was attending, with George, in Paris in April 2024.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Clover is a vigorous plant that crowds out weeds, thereby reducing the need for weed control.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
-
In the luteal phase, progesterone is considered catabolic and may impair muscle contractions during vigorous activity.—
Allison Palmer
June 4,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the run-up under splash hire coach Mauricio Pochettino has been less than encouraging, though a recent 3-2 friendly win over a stout Senegal squad was a positive.—
Greg Cote
June 4,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
The stout, middle-aged man, was due to have cataract surgery in April at the clinic in Catacamas, which sits on the lowest slopes of a bushy hill some four hours east of Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-bitten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-bitten. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
