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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in no
certainly not
I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardly
Political violence embraced by the progressive Left is hardly new.
—
Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
That was hardly the only time Hafley’s unit was ready to pounce when Daniels tried to get out.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
So in this more cosmic sense, anyway, the Chiefs on Sunday hardly must beat visiting Philadelphia in a rematch of the humbling 40-22 TKO the Eagles administered in Super Bowl LIX.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
At that point, there was hardly any information about the incident—let alone details about the shooter or a motive.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
That was hardly the only time Hafley’s unit was ready to pounce when Daniels tried to get out.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
So in this more cosmic sense, anyway, the Chiefs on Sunday hardly must beat visiting Philadelphia in a rematch of the humbling 40-22 TKO the Eagles administered in Super Bowl LIX.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
At that point, there was hardly any information about the incident—let alone details about the shooter or a motive.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardly
Adverb
-
Frank Olton, 76, was found on Monday tied to a pole in his basement suffering from multiple stab wounds, and his wife Maureen Olton, 77, was found on the house's first floor, severely burned, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference on Tuesday.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
One of every $8 in outstanding US credit card debt was severely delinquent at the end of June, the highest level since 2010.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Maybe his loud-and-proud brand of politics, no matter how controversial, gave them confidence.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The fall colors on Mackinac Island typically peak in the middle of October, and this year is expected to be no different.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The earliest cars had a 1,131 cc flat-four engine that made 25 hp, barely sufficient to let the 1,700-pound pipsqueak keep up in the right lane of the Autobahn.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Tons of Spanx shapewear and intimates are on sale, including this wireless bra that offers full coverage, compression, and barely-there straps.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
But sadly, the no-muss, no-fuss era of a single must-have national rail pass is over.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
But sadly, after many rescue attempts, BSC closed for good in 2024, unable to overcome the financial issues that had plagued the school for decades.—
Katherine Polcari,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
That looks like a different Caleb Williams to me, so Ben Johnson's coached him hard this offseason.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The mixer's bowl boasts a distinctive walnut shade and wood grain pattern, and its food-safe seal means the bowl works hard (and looks good doing it).—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Hilleary, at the campaign event, also harshly criticized Biden’s immigration policies and his administration’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Always use gentle, soft tools like an old toothbrush to scrub away grime in tough corners or nooks, but avoid scrubbing harshly.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 through the first two decades of the 21st century, English, the dominant language for communication in government, across business, and throughout culture, has never been formalized by federal law.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Despite being signed to the culture-changing label Sub Pop for four albums in the 2000s, Fruit Bats never achieved the same level of acclaim as many of their labelmates, like the Shins and Sleater Kinney, and Johnson disbanded the collective at the end of its 2013 tour.—
Daniel Kohn,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Use a silicone broom, which is more effective at picking up pet hair than traditional corn brooms that tend to trap hair in the slightly sticky bristles.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The delicate curtain slightly obscures a digital color photograph of a drawing by a museum employee reimagining Picasso’s painting.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardly. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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