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Definition of hardnext
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hard

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adverb

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word hard different from other adjectives like it?

The words arduous and difficult are common synonyms of hard. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

In what contexts can arduous take the place of hard?

In some situations, the words arduous and hard are roughly equivalent. However, arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

When would difficult be a good substitute for hard?

The words difficult and hard can be used in similar contexts, but difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.

the difficult ascent of the mountain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hard
Adjective
Racists dismissed them as lesser beings, demeaned them and made life hard for all people of color — whites-only facilities and hard jobs. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026 But boarding school students were often hard to control. Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Adverb
Faleave Palazzo Pants With Pockets These pants deliver peak vacation energy without trying too hard. Vanessa L. Powell, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026 When Rotta the Hutt is kidnapped and held on a new planet, Shakari, Göransson goes hard on the electronic synths. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
  • Building the program had proved difficult.
    Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.
    Kelsey Fredricks, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
Adjective
  • His eyes gave him away as a ruthless competitor.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
  • But then there's Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes), a ruthless country singer and the thorn in Don's side.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • Tutt and his teams have worked on engineering designs to safely drop anything needing a sturdy parachute — including the Orion capsule that splashed down last month off the coast of San Diego after its 477,710-mile journey to the moon and back.
    Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Allow reasonable discipline in school.
    Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
  • If reasonable, open windows and turn off air conditioning at night to let cooler air in, then shut the windows and shades in the morning to trap the cool air inside, Trane recommends.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.
    Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 May 2026
  • The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • But today’s wars of words seem designed to fuel intense polarization, not to change minds.
    Lisa Pavia-Higel, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
  • Big tech giants including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have prioritized growing their chips business to rely less on AI chipmaker Nvidia, who reported a strong first quarter last week, even as competition is getting more intense from rivals including Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom.
    John Kell, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Top oil-consuming countries have been releasing reserves to help offset shortfalls while other countries have enacted strict rationing policies.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 May 2026
  • Guardiola worked hard in those first months to establish a close bond between the players, implementing strict rules designed to ensure certain behaviours became second-nature.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Centurions were fueled Tuesday by solid defense and a strong outing from junior pitcher Chase Kline.
    Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 27 May 2026
  • Nishida’s greatest tools are his speed, and his ability to play superior defense with a solid, dependable throwing arm.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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