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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hard
Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Stepping inside feels like a trip back in time, with rows of vintage treasures alongside new releases and hard-to-find gems.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
The Gators have won three national titles since the last time the Nittany Lions did, and the state and regional recruiting pools are much deeper in Florida, but the path to the College Football Playoff looks harder in the SEC, which simply has more good teams than the Big Ten.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Adjective
His inability to make hard decisions or abstain from becoming a maudlin, clingy drunk had transformed me from his girlfriend and lover into his mother and disciplinarian.
—Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Stepping inside feels like a trip back in time, with rows of vintage treasures alongside new releases and hard-to-find gems.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Squint hard enough, and there's still a way for the Broncos to win this.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
The Gators have won three national titles since the last time the Nittany Lions did, and the state and regional recruiting pools are much deeper in Florida, but the path to the College Football Playoff looks harder in the SEC, which simply has more good teams than the Big Ten.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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These events encourage community members to dispose of hazardous materials like gasoline, oil, chemicals, and more, which can be difficult to dispose of and pose a safety risk if not handled correctly.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
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Don't Look Now manipulates audiences' minds, mixing elements of the occult with the overwhelming need for hope into a plot twist audiences will find difficult to swallow.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Zimmer also received an Emmy nod for her portrayal of ruthless executive Quinn King on Unreal (2015–2018).—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
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And in short stories and doorstops, her attention is ruthless and unflinching.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Any question which of those teams has a stout and sturdy offensive line?—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
20 Oct. 2025
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If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Bowie is quite wonderful as Tesla — mysterious, exotic yet somehow the film’s most reasonable man —while Andy Serkis as his assistant brings sly comedy to an otherwise morbidly serious affair.—
Kirk Honeycutt,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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If a landlord or property owner has a reasonable suspicion of a safety concern, such as a health emergency or damage to a residential property, they are allowed to enter without notice.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Falcons' offense has emerged as one of the toughest in the league, causing multiple turnovers a game.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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How self-reflection operates matters because it will always be needed to make wiser choices about our toughest challenges.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Thus, current fears reinforce a pre-existing localism, and infuse it with new and intense emotions.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
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After at least half a decade of acute concern about the way that platforms such as Instagram may affect young people, as well as intense debate about how best to keep kids safe online, Meta has arrived at a label that was invented in the 1980s because parents were upset by movies such as Gremlins.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Last month, Cupertino became the latest Bay Area city to impose strict restrictions on RVs parking on city streets, with both city councilmembers and residents referencing the bans elsewhere in their reasoning.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Prefer to set strict rules allotting only a handful of visitors each morning?—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Its ready-to-wear and accessories division has also proved a solid earner, with sales rising 6 percent in the first half, helping the company outperform its sector peers.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
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That’s solid growth, which has been reflected in the uptick in the rights fee cost through the years.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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