Synonyms of hardness

hardness

noun

ˈhärd-nəs 

1

as in hardship

something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal

the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hardship
• difficulty
• obstacle
• asperity
• rigor
• adversity
• hurdle
• discomfort
• trial
• inconvenience
• inhibition
• nuisance
• obstruction
• interference
• misfortune
• let
• tribulation
• impediment
• hindrance
• rub
• handicap
• tragedy
• affliction
• embarrassment
• encumbrance
• knock
• chain
• mishap
• deterrent
• shackle
• block
• snag
• catch
• stop
• hitch
• crimp
• clog
• hump
• trammel
• bar
• manacle
• pons asinorum
• check
• fetter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opportunity
• advantage
• break

2

as in severity

the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)

the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways

Synonyms & Similar Words

• severity
• rigidity
• rigidness
• strictness
• sternness
• inflexibility
• stringency
• harshness
• rigor
• exactingness
• rigorousness
• callousness
• obduracy
• implacability
• gruffness
• firmness
• pitilessness
• steadfastness
• hard-heartedness
• resolve
• monasticism
• stubbornness
• obstinacy
• obdurateness
• determination
• dourness
• asceticism
• austereness
• austerity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexibility
• gentleness
• tolerance
• tenderness
• softness
• patience
• kindness
• indulgence
• willingness
• responsiveness
• mildness
• laxness
• forbearance
• compliance
• lenience
• pliability
• pliancy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hardness

There’s a certain softness to Peter’s eyes and a hardness in Telemachus’s brow. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Heating the alloy to 750°C (1,382°F) reduced its grain size by roughly 90%, while raising its hardness by 60 Vickers units. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026

Both can chew up and maintain most ground types and hardnesses, but an electric tiller can have enough power to process new ground, which is usually too hard for a cultivator to process. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2026

The everyday blade and mini blade use M390 steel, selected for its hardness and edge retention. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026