as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
If Trump does make an exception, analysts say that would be a big win for India, though others are hard-pressed to see this happen.
—
Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
The state high court will be hard-pressed to reject the effort, as in 1981, the same court, with a Democratic majority then as now, declared a House district unconstitutionally noncompact in Schrage v. State Board of Elections.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
More news: Former Red Sox Prospect Signs With Dodgers: Report
Rosario joins a long list of non-roster invitees that will be hard-pressed to crack the Dodgers' roster without an injury at the major league level.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Bell High’s baseball team will be hard-pressed to top last season’s historic achievement winning the school’s first City Section Open Division championship at Dodger Stadium after not being in an upper division final since 1953.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
The state high court will be hard-pressed to reject the effort, as in 1981, the same court, with a Democratic majority then as now, declared a House district unconstitutionally noncompact in Schrage v. State Board of Elections.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
More news: Former Red Sox Prospect Signs With Dodgers: Report
Rosario joins a long list of non-roster invitees that will be hard-pressed to crack the Dodgers' roster without an injury at the major league level.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Bell High’s baseball team will be hard-pressed to top last season’s historic achievement winning the school’s first City Section Open Division championship at Dodger Stadium after not being in an upper division final since 1953.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
-
Jacob Bernstein joins us to discuss the story that has riveted—and perplexed—Hollywood.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Despite this return, her limited appearances on WWE television, consisting of only two matches, have left fans perplexed and curious about her current status.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Chasing perfection this offseason required Webb to tweak the pitch that, ironically, most baffled hitters.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But the on-again, off-again nature of the process has resulted in a bewildered industry that has adopted a wait and see approach to investment decisions and supply chain alterations.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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Old Trafford was where distraught, bewildered fans felt physically compelled to go to express their grief.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
First thing's first: Sweating is a completely normal bodily function and not something to be embarrassed about, health experts say.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Are those people embarrassed not to have read Lispector?—
New York Times,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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