HARD-PRESSED Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

hard-pressed

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈprest

Definition of hard-pressed

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

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 In heat waves, Aid stations could be hard-pressed to manage everyone affected. — Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026 People are genuinely feeling hard-pressed. — Mishal Husain, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026 And public school districts would be hard-pressed to mandate a weeklong hike. — Anthony Depalma, Mercury News, 22 May 2026 Human beings, for all their engineering smarts, would be hard-pressed to invent something so simple and elegant and keenly imagined. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed

Adjective

Millie Bobby Brown says her American Stranger Things costars were very perplexed by her British meals.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026
There were few international visitors, an absence that has perplexed business owners who banked on hundreds of thousands of new faces to patronize their establishments.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Definition of perplexed

Adjective

In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Away from the bewildered rancher calling out in surprise, away from the Appaloosa.

— Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of bewildered

Adjective

Brown said this is typical, particularly with prepubescent boys, who can be embarrassed.

— Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Illnesses from the parasite are assumed to be an undercount since many people who get cyclosporiasis, which causes unrelenting diarrhea, cramping and bloating, may be embarrassed to see a doctor or may try to wait out their symptoms at home.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Browse Nearby Words

hardnoses

hard-pressed

hard put

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“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hard-pressed

adjective

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