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
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
The Yankees and Red Sox may be hard-pressed to replicate the end of Game 1 between the Thunder and Pacers when Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winner with three-tenths of a second.
—
Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
And given budget constraints, California will be hard-pressed to do more for caregivers and those who need care.
—Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
After several thousand years a sentient observer would be hard-pressed to discover any evidence at all of humanity’s brief tenure on the land masses of Earth.
—Tim Weed
june 4, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
Each brings strong resumés and versatile skill sets, but will be hard-pressed to replace the star trio.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
And given budget constraints, California will be hard-pressed to do more for caregivers and those who need care.
—Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
After several thousand years a sentient observer would be hard-pressed to discover any evidence at all of humanity’s brief tenure on the land masses of Earth.
—Tim Weed
june 4, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
Each brings strong resumés and versatile skill sets, but will be hard-pressed to replace the star trio.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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The trade stunned the sport, perplexed rival executives and devastated Bostonians.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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But 100 days into the second Trump administration, those leaders are perplexed and concerned.—
Marc Lynch,
Foreign Affairs,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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Delap’s cannon shoulders struck fear into a baffled division, like a medieval army who looked across the battlefield and realised that the opposing forces had technology far beyond theirs.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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There were also problems connecting to the internet and to phone networks, leaving many bewildered and unable to obtain information.—
Catherine Porter,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Tornado is a bewildered Japanese girl (played by pop singer Kôki) who fights off a horde of white men, thieving gold vagabonds who represent both Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Celtic ancestry.—
Armond White,
National Review,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Most people are embarrassed to raise their voices in public and therefore equate it with being rude.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
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Remembering this, Burnett shakes his head, embarrassed.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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