Definition of hard-pressednext
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument

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-pressed Even if the bullpen had been perfect after Rodriguez left, the Angels still would have been hard-pressed to win with the current state of their lineup. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026 The fact that most non-Natives, and many Natives as well, would be hard-pressed to put together a list of Native American foods—that’s colonization in action. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 American consumers are hard-pressed to remember a time when inflation wasn’t on their minds. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 July 2026 Dominant streaming platform Netflix reports earnings after the bell on Thursday, and analysts are sounding hard-pressed to find a meaningful driver for the stock. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
  • College football fans were a little perplexed as to why the flag wasn’t thrown.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Nate said Klock, who was white, would introduce Nate, who is Black, as his son, which often left people perplexed.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Thanks to the coffered and baffled wood ceilings, noise levels are buffered and kept to a pleasant rumble.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The idea of there being two movies about concrete in the first place is baffling to me; Wilson, on the other hand, seems baffled that such a situation would stop a studio from greenlighting a project.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But Iñárritu’s caricatures become people in a way Kubrick’s don’t; as the bewildered President, for example, John Goodman is simultaneously grounded and theatrical in his presentation, recalling his best work with the Coen brothers.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • By the time Lee’s moved on to thanking his dad for not believing him, thereby giving him something to prove, an embarrassed Frances is making a quick run for the exit.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Dallas got thoroughly embarrassed at home by a winless Buccaneers squad, surrendering 241 rushing yards and making an 0-4 offense look explosive.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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