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

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
• sedulously
• steadily
• thoroughly
• 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

Yet as the Better Government Association’s Illinois Answers Project recently reported, the school district can hardly bank on TIF funds to close its budget gap. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

And no matter what a shoe may be going through, something built for durability is hardly a hard sell. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Nor would a wealth tax stop billionaires from financing politics, since the wealthiest hardly need to throw the full weight of their fortunes around to wield political influence. — Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

The judges like the pastry but say there is hardly enough filling. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026