as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
At those prices, European automakers are hard-pressed to compete, even with tariffs on EVs set as high as 35%.
—
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Indiana has an explosive offense that Miami will be hard-pressed to slow down.
—Keven Lerner, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
Still, without her contributions, the Bobcats will be hard-pressed to reach their potential.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Dec. 2025
Fisch, unlike DeBoer, is at a program that would be hard-pressed -- to say the least -- to match the financial backing Michigan could offer him.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Indiana has an explosive offense that Miami will be hard-pressed to slow down.
—Keven Lerner, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
Still, without her contributions, the Bobcats will be hard-pressed to reach their potential.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Dec. 2025
Fisch, unlike DeBoer, is at a program that would be hard-pressed -- to say the least -- to match the financial backing Michigan could offer him.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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But much like with the Belichick snub, NFL fans were as perplexed about Kraft being left off the ballot as well.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The five-time major champion remains perplexed by the poa annua greens and settled for a 68 on the easier North to make the cut on the number.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Many are somewhat baffled or turned off by the ale.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bugatti appears slightly embarrassed by this flourish and has been quick to point out that it was added at the customer’s request.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2026
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Harry was both ‘excited’ and ‘embarrassed’ to bring Meghan there.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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