Synonyms of hardly

hardly

adverb

ˈhärd-lē 

1

as in severely

in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering

the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders

Synonyms & Similar Words

• severely
• harshly
• oppressively
• hard
• brutally
• roughly
• ill
• sternly
• strongly
• stiffly
• firmly
• aggressively
• grimly
• uncharitably
• ruthlessly
• unfeelingly
• unsparingly
• pitilessly
• mercilessly
• heartlessly
• callously
• abusively
• obdurately
• tyrannically
• insensitively
• savagely
• viciously
• inhumanly
• insensately
• decidedly
• unmercifully
• inhumanely
• resolutely
• brutishly
• toughly
• hard-heartedly
• determinedly
• cold-bloodedly
• assertively
• gruffly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lightly
• mildly
• gently
• softly
• kindly
• leniently
• graciously
• cordially
• tenderly
• lovingly
• benevolently
• considerately
• clemently
• mercifully
• charitably
• sympathetically
• understandingly
• benignantly
• humanely
• tolerantly
• compassionately
• softheartedly

2

as in no

certainly not

I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

• no
• never
• none
• scarcely
• nothing
• ill
• nowhere
• by no means
• nothing doing
• on no account
• noway
• nowise
• near

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certainly
• definitely
• surely
• completely
• absolutely
• most
• quite
• very
• positively
• highly
• extremely
• clearly
• exceedingly
• terribly
• really
• greatly
• awfully
• truly
• immensely
• enormously
• mighty
• unquestionably
• perfectly
• plainly
• rather
• utterly
• somewhat
• mostly
• slightly
• hugely
• awful
• doubtless
• assuredly
• mightily
• more or less
• unequivocally
• hands down

3

as in barely

by a very small margin

we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• barely
• slightly
• just
• scarcely
• narrowly
• almost
• somewhat
• marginally
• nearly
• minimally
• by the skin of one's teeth
• minutely
• closely
• partly
• approximately
• roughly
• scantly
• more or less
• plus or minus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• well
• significantly
• substantially
• considerably
• quite
• easily
• definitely
• vastly
• plainly
• positively
• fully
• completely
• unquestionably
• greatly
• abundantly
• generously
• copiously

4

as in sadly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadly
• bitterly
• hard
• sorrowfully
• painfully
• mournfully
• unhappily
• sharply
• regretfully
• woefully
• harshly
• sorely
• ruefully
• wailfully
• severely
• grievously
• dolorously
• resentfully
• wretchedly
• plaintively
• agonizingly
• lugubriously
• dolefully
• inconsolably
• cheerlessly
• miserably
• distressfully
• abjectly
• drearily
• dispiritedly
• distressingly
• dismally
• acutely
• keenly
• despairingly
• dejectedly
• pessimistically
• joylessly
• despondently
• forlornly
• sullenly
• glumly
• disconsolately
• ill
• downheartedly
• dourly
• darkly
• poignantly
• morosely
• somberly
• piercingly
• gloomily
• crestfallenly
• cruelly
• blackly
• low-spiritedly
• mirthlessly
• hurtfully
• rancorously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happily
• gladly
• blissfully
• joyfully
• joyously
• easily
• cheerfully
• gleefully
• merrily
• delightedly
• lightly
• cheerily
• casually
• lightheartedly
• gaily
• blithely
• calmly
• indifferently
• well
• stoically
• dispassionately
• nonchalantly
• unconcernedly
• favorably
• impassively
• sunnily
• mirthfully
• rejoicingly
• good-naturedly
• blithesomely

5

as in hard

with great effort or determination

the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hard
• intensely
• intensively
• intently
• diligently
• continuously
• resolutely
• purposefully
• slavishly
• determinedly
• doggedly
• arduously
• laboriously
• strenuously
• assiduously
• actively
• industriously
• seriously
• mightily
• vigorously
• steadily
• thoroughly
• sedulously
• vehemently
• amain
• busily
• energetically
• dynamically
• briskly
• feverishly
• steadfastly
• spiritedly
• animatedly
• unremittingly
• exhaustively
• zealously
• conscientiously
• unrelentingly
• willfully
• ardently
• painstakingly
• meticulously
• attentively
• earnestly
• stubbornly
• unabatedly
• ploddingly
• tirelessly
• indefatigably
• untiringly
• obstinately
• wearilessly
• unflaggingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• casually
• lazily
• wearily
• halfheartedly
• sluggishly
• listlessly
• languidly
• tiredly
• indolently
• desultorily
• lackadaisically
• shiftlessly
• spiritlessly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hardly

At first glance, the Pixel Watch 5 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, but that's hardly a complaint. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026

Getting real, not simulated, data on the vest’s performance would mean sending it onboard an Orion spacecraft all the way to deep space and waiting for a solar storm to happen, which is hardly feasible. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

Sure, the paint job looks fabulous, and the commemorative stickers and the special serial numbers might woo a select few, but there’s hardly much beyond that. — New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

In an independent sector where even experienced filmmakers struggle to finance their next project, these are hardly ornamental accolades. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026