Synonyms of hard
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as in difficult 
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as in ruthless
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as in sturdy
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as in reasonable
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as in tough
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as in intense
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as in strict
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as in solid
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as in stable
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as in sore
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as in stubborn
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as in historical
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as in intensively
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as in bitterly
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as in strongly
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as in close
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as in harshly
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1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass
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2
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone
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3
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate
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4
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?
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5
as in tough
difficult to endure
the hard life of a migrant farm worker
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6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a carpet that withstood years of hard wear
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7
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules
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8
as in solid
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
hard candies fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm
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9
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong
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10
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment
maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him
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11
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path
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12
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others
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1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination
we took a much-needed break after working hard all week a hard-won victory
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2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
took the news of their grandfather's death hard
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3
as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner
hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds the wind blew hard all day
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4
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time
the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse
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5
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The difficulty of pulling off this illusion is hard to overstate.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
When this happens, the body absorbs more water from the food, which can make stools harder and lead to constipation.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
That’s the hardest part for coach Marcus Freeman after Notre Dame collapsed against Texas A&M, losing 41-40 on a night that was supposed to be the program’s second chance to make a first impression.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The difficulty of pulling off this illusion is hard to overstate.
—Bianca Bosker, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Adverb
But Microsoft tries to require you to use a Microsoft Account and steadily makes that restriction harder and harder to get around.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
When this happens, the body absorbs more water from the food, which can make stools harder and lead to constipation.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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Ncell, Nepal’s second-largest telecommunications service provider, noted that shutting down all platforms at once was, in any case, technically difficult and warned that the move would severely impact business.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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Last summer, after years of hip problems and some difficult surgeries to address them, Jill had an operation that went poorly.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tracey recalls how her ruthless daughter sought revenge on her father, classmates and Laura.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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In the epic Emperor Kisra (Kingsley) has a reputation for being utterly ruthless.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fall sowing encourages sturdy plants and earlier blooms, which can be quite beneficial in hot Southern climes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
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The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The most successful organizations will be those that leverage AI to eliminate mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on high-value creative and strategic work within reasonable timeframes.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The reasonable monthlies, at $822, get you a bike room, in-building laundry, and a storage unit.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The backcourt duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the StudBudz, are shifty, tough shot-making guards who can get hot in a hurry.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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And that’s tough on those guys.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pyongyang has continued to exercise significant control over the population and severely restrict the rights and freedoms of its population, and that has only gotten more intense over the last decade.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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This question — which strikes at the heart of a perennial issue in American politics, frequently reignited by recurring mass shootings — sparked an intense partisan divide.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Without a strict hierarchy or single decision-maker, our process can sometimes be slow, messy, or even tiring.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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At too many colleges, leaders have been reluctant to impose strict rules or harsh penalties for chatbot use, passing the buck to professors to come up with their own policies.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And when the second half started, Gay couldn’t turn a solid Commanders drive into three more points, banging the ball off the right goal post.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The company's portfolio includes solid rocket motors (SRMs) ranging from 2 inches to 22 inches in diameter for missiles like the Stinger, Javelin, and air-defense interceptors.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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