as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
despite being undeniably hard up, they had too much pride to accept charity
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Recent Examples of hard up
Cleveland Browns Stadium, hard up against the Science Center lawn, was plunged into darkness.
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Once the timing of the case pushed hard up against a national election in which Trump was likely to run, forbearance would have been the proper and public-spirited course.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Jan. 2024
Considering the Heat’s position hard up against the second apron of the punitive luxury tax, 10–day contracts stand as a means to pay only when needed, 10 days at a time, at the veteran-minimum, scale.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
The Habs are getting there, incrementally, and GM Kent Hughes might have to consider surrendering the No. 5 pick if one of the 10-12 clubs hard up against the cap offers an overpayment in terms of legit NHL players under contract.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for hard up 
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Once the timing of the case pushed hard up against a national election in which Trump was likely to run, forbearance would have been the proper and public-spirited course.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Jan. 2024
Considering the Heat’s position hard up against the second apron of the punitive luxury tax, 10–day contracts stand as a means to pay only when needed, 10 days at a time, at the veteran-minimum, scale.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
The Habs are getting there, incrementally, and GM Kent Hughes might have to consider surrendering the No. 5 pick if one of the 10-12 clubs hard up against the cap offers an overpayment in terms of legit NHL players under contract.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for hard up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard up
Adjective
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Now research is finding that specifically working nights and rotating shift schedules can leave people susceptible to depression and poor health.Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024
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Bringing him in would allow the team to feel better about the shortstop position despite his poor production from last year.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The popular medical drama follows the heartwarming tale of life in London’s impoverished East End, as a group of midwives welcome new lives and care for the community in the changing times of the 1950s and 1960s.Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024
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Cyclone Chido is the deadliest storm to strike the territory in nearly a century, underscoring the vulnerability of the island’s impoverished population.Adrienne Surprenant and Tom Nouvian, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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If not a broke man’s Kyler Murray, Keene has a chance to be Gabriel-lite for Michigan.Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don’t want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump.Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hard up
Cite this Entry
“Hard up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard%20up. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
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