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
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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Choose varieties that produce long, sturdy stems and blooms.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Want to know just how hardy bee balm is?—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
9 Mar. 2026
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The plants are hardy in USDA Zones 8-10.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tokyo has shown no interest in military involvement, but some experts believe the conflict could bolster Takaichi's push for a stronger military and expanded weapons sales.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Learn more › The latest product of an ongoing Peanuts x Timex collab is this Expedition Snoopy Road Trip watch, a cool and rugged off-roady timepiece with a fun splash of whimsy.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
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Complicating all this is that the moon’s south pole is rugged and remote from more easily accessible regions, meaning there are surprisingly few places to build there.—
Leonard David,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In 2008, Klay Thompson of Santa Margarita scored 37 points and made a record seven three-pointers at the notoriously tough Arco Arena in Sacramento to help the Eagles win the Division III title over Sacramento 72-55.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Punch made multiple tough baskets and got to the free-throw line as the Jayhawks struggled with his physicality.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The medical examiner ruled her death the result of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or hardened arteries, possibly due to a hereditary disorder.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
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The tool will also ship with either a graphite marking tip - essentially a compact graphite pencil for layout work - or a hardened metal scribing tip for marking metal surfaces.—
Omar Kardoudi
March 05,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Understanding Stainless Steel Scratches Stainless steel of all kinds—appliances and cookware—go through vigorous, daily use.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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One 2025 study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that getting as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise decreased the risk of developing dementia by 41%.—
Sandra Rose Salathe,
Flow Space,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But considering Fred Hoiberg’s team didn’t have a single double-digit loss before this week, and its stout no-middle defense is still top-10 nationally, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Aztecs are stout as ever defensively under coach Brian Dutcher but rank 108th nationally in offensive efficiency, according to the Pomeroy ratings, which measure points-per-possession adjusted for opponents.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-bitten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-bitten. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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