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
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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
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4
as in sadly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly
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5
as in hard
with great effort or determination
the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardly
The occasion was the 25th anniversary of The Wall Group, Brooke Wall’s styling agency, and Delilah — all low lights, curved leather banquettes and old-school supper-club mood — was full of hair stylists, makeup artists and wardrobe pros temporarily off the clock, though hardly off-brand.
—
Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
And even starting one and playing the other off the bench doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be considerable overlap, with an even split of the 48 minutes hardly the playing time expected for a duo each averaging over 30 minutes this season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Superficially, the two camps could hardly appear more different.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
This is hardly the first time the Strait of Hormuz has been weaponized.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
And even starting one and playing the other off the bench doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be considerable overlap, with an even split of the 48 minutes hardly the playing time expected for a duo each averaging over 30 minutes this season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Superficially, the two camps could hardly appear more different.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
This is hardly the first time the Strait of Hormuz has been weaponized.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardly
Adverb
-
The fire spread rapidly to nearby cars, leaving several vehicles severely burned.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli military said about 180 people had been injured, some severely.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Tuesday was no different as Texas’ 62-53 lead was whittled down to one point after burly forward Darrion Williams made North Carolina State’s third 3-pointer in a span of 86 seconds.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Change is possible, no matter how ingrained our bad habits are.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
My awe had barely subsided when, two minutes later, James got the ball, raced just past the free-throw line, and took flight.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Little Road, barely wide enough for two cars to pass, meanders past older homes and the newer construction of Hillsborough County sprawl.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
While Brandon and Rosa Williams bear the ultimate responsibility for these heinous actions, there are, sadly, others to blame as well.—
Vaughan Bagley,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Not so much because Paul puts on-again, off-again partner Dakota Mortensen into a headlock and then pelts him with metal bar stools — sadly, this is a scene that would not be out of place on many reality shows — but because a small child is in the room.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Sporting pushed hard in the second half for an equalizer, and momentum appeared to be with the home club.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The hard-throwing righty sprinted up the dugout steps for one more out after his first three outs on Thursday.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Dissent is harshly punished in Iran, as demonstrated earlier this year when the regime killed thousands of protesters who dared to challenge its rule.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Since leaving office, Ahmadinejad has harshly criticized the Iranian government, and as a result, Iran’s Guardian Council has formally excluded him from running for president.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Some people play college ball and never touch March Madness.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The sense of shame never really goes away.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The ball, however, ever so slightly ticked Joshua’s Josh Martinez and deflected toward the Scorpion’s Diego Garcia who was in perfect position to punch it in.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Gravitational waves are usually hunted by measuring distance—how space itself stretches and shrinks ever so slightly.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardly. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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