as in difficulties
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
working two jobs was a hardship he was willing to endure to get out of debt
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Recent Examples of hardships
The hardships sparked mass emigration and economic collapse, leaving an even deeper mark — one that still surfaces in quiet dinners with strangers like us.
—
Marlise Kast-Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
The hardships awaiting these Palestinians in a devastated homeland may outweigh the trials of their journey.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
As so often happens in human history, though, constant hardships produce people who are resilient.
—Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Patients going through financial hardships can also sometimes qualify for charity programs, which subsidize their prescriptions.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, California’s much higher share of students facing these hardships and attending public schools — rather than being absorbed into private ones — exerts a downward pressure on statewide scores.
—Jill Stegman, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The powerful prosper as inequality grows Weakened basic human rights are intertwined with hardships for many in the region.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
New York City faces budget hardships, an affordability crisis that rages on, and an urgent need for government to deliver.
—Zohran Mamdani, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Marlise Kast-Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
The hardships awaiting these Palestinians in a devastated homeland may outweigh the trials of their journey.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
As so often happens in human history, though, constant hardships produce people who are resilient.
—Robert W. Laird, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Patients going through financial hardships can also sometimes qualify for charity programs, which subsidize their prescriptions.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, California’s much higher share of students facing these hardships and attending public schools — rather than being absorbed into private ones — exerts a downward pressure on statewide scores.
—Jill Stegman, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The powerful prosper as inequality grows Weakened basic human rights are intertwined with hardships for many in the region.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
New York City faces budget hardships, an affordability crisis that rages on, and an urgent need for government to deliver.
—Zohran Mamdani, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardships
difficulties
Noun
-
Just as enterprising librarians and archivists met the difficulties of their day with novel solutions, now a new generation looked for ways to adapt to the overflow.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
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On Friday, Hoda Kotb, who co-anchored TODAY with Savannah from 2017 until January 2025, returned to the show to talk about the worry the team feels for their friend, and all the times Savannah has been there for them while facing their own difficulties.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardships.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardships. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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