Synonyms of hard
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as in ruthless 
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as in difficult
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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 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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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass
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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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hard work
hard choices
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard
WIRED, 13 Feb. 2023
That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.
—Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Nathan Vinson, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
The helicopter, while essential, serves as a symbol of the resources that Dr. Baek and his team fought so hard to secure.
—Isadora Wandermurem, TIME, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard 
Adjective
But unlike climate change, turning it around doesn’t have to be that hard, and the benefits will be felt immediately.
—WIRED, 13 Feb. 2023
That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.
—Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Adverb
Blige has worked hard the past few weeks hashing out the final details for staging and overall production.
—Nathan Vinson, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
The helicopter, while essential, serves as a symbol of the resources that Dr. Baek and his team fought so hard to secure.
—Isadora Wandermurem, TIME, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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The lawyer who normally practices in New York is gregarious, quick with a joke and always happy to talk to the media, but can be ruthless in cross-examination.—
Andrew Dalton,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
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City are going through some stuff, Arsenal aren’t ruthless enough, Chelsea are wobbling, teams will figure out how to beat Nottingham Forest soon enough, Newcastle are the form team now but are an Alexander Isak injury away from trouble.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The emotional weight of losing that independence is difficult to quantify, but its impact is profound.—
John Hope Bryant,
TIME,
18 Jan. 2025
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Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that's difficult to detect.—
MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Loftin Hall itself, the former student dining hall where the museum is housed, is noteworthy on its own, with beautiful Mexican tiles and sturdy wooden beams.—
Pam LeBlanc,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2025
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The insulation will keep you warm in below-zero temperatures, while the sturdy rubber soles will prevent you from slipping and sliding on icy terrain.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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All of this could have been avoided with any number of reasonable, common-sense approaches to addressing homebuilding on a statewide basis.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Orange County Register,
27 Jan. 2025
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The moves alienated longtime shoppers who valued Kohl’s for its quality clothes at reasonable prices.—
Maria Sole Campinoti,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though not nearly as consequential as Dallas losing Dončić, Minnesota took a tough blow Monday — Donte DiVincenzo will be out indefinitely due to a toe injury.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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Last year was a tough one for job seekers, who on average were unemployed for 23.3 weeks in December, up from 19.4 in December 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Chiefs tallied another three points from Butker as both defenses were noticeably intense and solid as the first quarter ended 6-3 Kansas City.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN,
19 Jan. 2025
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The single performs even better on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, which is compiled in the same way as the Rock Digital Song Sales list, only the focus is exclusively on the more intense, harder style of the genre.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Ask what one thing matters most, hide your phone away, take everything outside, create strict boundaries, and make health your edge.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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His remarkable physique is a testament to that strict regimen.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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That’s a good thing because the brand with the signature bright green paint has lasted decades for a reason - their product is solid.—
Josh Max,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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There are parts to this team that work; the rebounding and defense are solid.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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