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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of references that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out, including his 2024 feud with Drake.
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of nods that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out — including his 2024 feud with Drake.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet while the Dodgers won’t be a problem unless the Red Sox actually make the Fall Classic, the other American League contenders have improved as well, with the AL East in particular remaining a minefield the club will be hard-pressed to navigate.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2025
Scholars today are hard-pressed to distinguish a significant large-scale, modern steel public sculpture in the South that predates it.
—Mary Logan Bikoff, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of nods that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out — including his 2024 feud with Drake.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Yet while the Dodgers won’t be a problem unless the Red Sox actually make the Fall Classic, the other American League contenders have improved as well, with the AL East in particular remaining a minefield the club will be hard-pressed to navigate.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2025
Scholars today are hard-pressed to distinguish a significant large-scale, modern steel public sculpture in the South that predates it.
—Mary Logan Bikoff, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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Ellie seemed perplexed when she was told by police that her father was missing.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
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This was followed by a photo of Bronze, who was also wearing Crocs, holding another fish on the end of a line and looking a little perplexed.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Chasing perfection this offseason required Webb to tweak the pitch that, ironically, most baffled hitters.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Apart from the odd bewildered tourist or local going about their day, the vast majority of people in the carriage were heading to what most regarded as a ‘must-win’ match at home to Everton and the vibe, like the team’s results in 2025, was mixed.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Every lap felt like a mind-numbing carousel ride through car exhaust and past bewildered pedestrians, while inhaling burrito-scented air.—
Marley Dickinson,
Outside Online,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Los Angeles Lakers were embarrassed on their home court to start the NBA Playoffs on Saturday night, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat them 117-95 in a game where starters didn’t even need to stay on the floor throughout the fourth quarter.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Why do some people ruminate after social events? Broadly speaking, people living with social anxiety possess a fear of being judged by others negatively and of being embarrassed in social situations, say Steele and Di Bartolomeo.—
Seraphina Seow,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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