HARDHANDED Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

hardhanded

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈhan-dəd

Definition of hardhanded

as in tough

difficult to endure the hardhanded rule of a tyrannical regime

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardhanded

Adjective

The case has led to calls for tougher oversight of churches and other religious organizations in a country where religious faith plays a prominent role in public life.

— Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Thermal equilibrium might sound like a tough concept, but hundreds of systems reach them around us on a daily basis.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Rejecing the marketing formula Brand building has gotten harder as marketing chiefs face growing pressure to prove their value.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump just didn’t understand—and didn’t care—that any chief’s most important duty is to tell the president hard truths.

— Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Already postponed 24 hours, the invasion proceeded in the face of rough seas, strong winds, and low visibility in order to seize a small window in time of enormous consequence.

— Marc E. Andersen, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership, a four-legged stationary lander, descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rough

Adjective

Thomas shocks Vision back to life, but this somehow alerts Butcherbird; Vision’s mindscape fills with oppressive red lighting, ominously circling birds, and TVs crackling with static.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
The tropical sun was oppressive, but company representatives were prepared with orange parasols, each with a dedicated barcode.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of oppressive

Adjective

Either way, a spot in the round of 32 would be a just reward for a team that is unbeaten two games into what has been an extremely trying tournament off the field.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
More than half of the search-and-rescue workers who show up for the most trying missions are BUSARs.

— Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

Definition of trying

Adjective

Now in his 25th year on television, Chuck has built a beloved media career through brutal honesty.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Although the decrease in shot volume wasn’t quite as dramatic, Giddey went 1-for-10 from the field and scored only two points in Wednesday’s brutal beatdown by the Raptors.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

The crisis capped a week of severe weather in which rain swamped dozens of homes in Utah and tornadoes blew off roofs, knocked trees onto houses and downed power lines in Arizona.

— MEAD GRUVER, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, says the severe thunderstorms are fueled by the large amount of moisture in the air.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of severe

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Browse Nearby Words

hard goods

hardhanded

hardhandedness

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“Hardhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardhanded. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hardhanded

adjective

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