hardness

1 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 of hardness adversity, asperity, difficulty, hardship, rigorWords Related to hardness discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; humpNear Antonyms of hardness advantage, break, opportunity

2 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 of hardness exactingness, severity, harshness, inflexibility, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rigorousness, sternness, strictness, stringencyWords Related to hardness callousness, hard-heartedness, implacability, obduracy, obdurateness, pitilessness; dourness, gruffness; asceticism, austereness, austerity, monasticism; determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness; obstinacy, stubbornnessNear Antonyms of hardness forbearance, indulgence, kindness, lenience, patience, softness, tenderness, tolerance; responsiveness, willingness; compliance, pliability, pliancyAntonyms of hardness flexibility, gentleness, laxness, mildness