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
Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
The hard surfaces allow organisms to attach themselves.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2026
Williamsburg proper is home to uber-fancy and hard-to-get-into, trendy hotspots.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
Distinctions between friendly Indians and unfriendly Indians became harder to draw.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
The hard surfaces allow organisms to attach themselves.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Add ice, seal tins and shake hard for six to 10 seconds.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2026
Williamsburg proper is home to uber-fancy and hard-to-get-into, trendy hotspots.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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Kansas played the Blue Devils close and made life difficult for Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, largely thanks to Flory Bidunga’s defense.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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Parents in attendance shared appreciation for seeing teens connect with older adults, especially during a stage of life when meaningful conversation at home can sometimes feel more difficult.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There’s also just one overwhelming evil force in this play — the Nazis — whereas Dumas had his musketeers fighting not just ruthless government officials but royalty, religious leaders and nobles.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
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With a lesser interpreter in the role, Eva might have read more reductively as just a ruthless bureaucratic leader.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Cornhole toss Set up the sturdy cornhole boards and get to tossing the eight all-weather regulation bean bags.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If a teammate pushes for an answer, share your requirements and propose a reasonable timeframe that respects both schedules.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
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Jayson Tatum defied reasonable expectations to return from a torn Achilles in under a year and have vaulted the Celtics from fun underdog story to bonafide title contenders.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In 2008, Klay Thompson of Santa Margarita scored 37 points and made a record seven three-pointers at the notoriously tough Arco Arena in Sacramento to help the Eagles win the Division III title over Sacramento 72-55.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Punch made multiple tough baskets and got to the free-throw line as the Jayhawks struggled with his physicality.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The United States has pledged to keep the strait open and has led intense airstrikes targeting Iran's navy and the port city of Bandar Abbas.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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This intense demand is driving significant activity among niche data providers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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State law requires agencies using the technology to maintain strict controls over how information is shared and accessed.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Senate Bill 102 seeks to enact some of the strictest statewide regulations on the booming industry.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The neighborhood/area The hotel isn’t beachfront, like many in the area are, but rather a solid hike or short drive to the Pacific.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Johnson contributed solid minutes as the fill-in back-up center, totaling 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-9 shooting on threes, five rebounds, one assist, three steals and one block in 20 minutes off the bench.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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