Synonyms of hard
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as in difficult 
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as in ruthless
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as in sturdy
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as in reasonable
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as in tough
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as in intense
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as in strict
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as in solid
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as in stable
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as in sore
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as in stubborn
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as in historical
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as in intensively
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as in bitterly
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as in strongly
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as in close
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as in harshly
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1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass
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2
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone
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3
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate
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4
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?
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5
as in tough
difficult to endure
the hard life of a migrant farm worker
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6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a carpet that withstood years of hard wear
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7
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules
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8
as in solid
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
hard candies fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm
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9
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong
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10
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment
maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him
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11
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path
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12
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others
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1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination
we took a much-needed break after working hard all week a hard-won victory
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2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
took the news of their grandfather's death hard
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3
as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner
hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds the wind blew hard all day
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4
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time
the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse
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5
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hard
Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
The hardest part of this recipe is just opening the cans.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 14 Feb. 2026
Cocktails sit comfortably in the high teens and up, with a few outliers that lean hard into extravagance.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
But just how much bone tissue gets made depends on how hard those osteoblasts have to work during key times in a child’s development.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
The hardest part of this recipe is just opening the cans.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Protecting Chan’s love of skating was something Atwood worked hard to protect.
—Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 14 Feb. 2026
Cocktails sit comfortably in the high teens and up, with a few outliers that lean hard into extravagance.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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The voracious reader said that the best books, those that brought him happiness, were not the ones that ease our way in this strange and difficult world.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Local farmers work long hours, often under difficult conditions, to ensure our food supply remains steady.—
Joe Dymek,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The helmet’s symbolism directs the world to the atrocities being committed upon an innocent, sovereign nation undergoing ruthless destruction.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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During this ruthless era, famous women were sorted into a stringent binary.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Better Homes & Gardens Ezra Outdoor Adirondack Chair There are few chairs more classic and durable than an Adirondack chair, and this under-$200 sturdy option is one to add to your front porch, deck, or backyard.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
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One of the world’s sturdiest planes, a C-130, was on standby at Rawalpindi air base to ferry the body to the man’s village.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Grand jury proceedings require only probable cause, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and are conducted without defense counsel present.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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Analysts view the bank's valuation as more reasonable following the pullback.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Takaichi has proposed tougher policies on immigration and foreigners, something that resonates with a growing frustration in Japan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Bryant was tough to stop and scored nine of her 23 points in the first quarter.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The employee, a mother of two teen girls, warned about the filters and said the pressure on teen girls is intense.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Bhumjaithai party leader is staunch royalist who is firmly against any amendments to lese majeste, Thailand’s strict royal defamation law.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But strict donation rules required anonymity between donor and recipient for at least one to two years, meaning Kaedi Cecala could only wonder about the stranger who had just saved her life.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Gators snapped a six-game home losing streak to Kentucky with a solid 92-83 win on Saturday in front of the second-largest crowd in O'Connell Center history.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Crafted of solid marble, the primary bath’s 18th-century French tub had to be craned through the windows.—
Christine Lennon,
Architectural Digest,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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