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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
Even users going through the most severe TikTok withdrawal would be hard-pressed to buy a used phone for the price of a 2025 Toyota Prius.
—
Hank Sanders, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
The legendary sketch show, which premiered on Oct. 11, 1975, is celebrating its anniversary early by serving SNL fans a feast of abundance that even Debbie Downer would be hard-pressed to refuse.
—Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 15 Jan. 2025
With Egypt deep in debt and hard-pressed to pay for imports such as wheat and energy, the currency has crashed, while some goods have become difficult to find.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Foreigners and Americans alike have been hard-pressed to explain the ideology represented by some of Donald Trump’s initial Cabinet nominations, and for good reason.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard-pressed 
Hank Sanders, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
The legendary sketch show, which premiered on Oct. 11, 1975, is celebrating its anniversary early by serving SNL fans a feast of abundance that even Debbie Downer would be hard-pressed to refuse.
—Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 15 Jan. 2025
With Egypt deep in debt and hard-pressed to pay for imports such as wheat and energy, the currency has crashed, while some goods have become difficult to find.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Foreigners and Americans alike have been hard-pressed to explain the ideology represented by some of Donald Trump’s initial Cabinet nominations, and for good reason.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
-
This situation caused the Reddit user to become perplexed.—
Erica Lamberg,
Fox News,
13 Feb. 2025
-
The audacious broad-daylight carjacking and grisly murder in Central Florida last spring perplexed law enforcement officials for months.—
Martin E. Comas,
Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, a development that once baffled educators and administrators is ready to go mainstream.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
31 Dec. 2024
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Other stories explore similar themes in equally bizarre situations: In 1880s London, a very suave Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man, flirts shamelessly with the smitten wife of his very baffled doctor (Goldsberry and Kind, respectively).—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Hubbard’s bewildered eyes locked on Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles community reshaped by flames.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
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Anyone else is likely to emerge unharmed, if a little bewildered that these good-looking but skin-deep figures merited feature treatment.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After all, how many evil corporations have started because a guy got embarrassed about his wiener in the woods?—
Josh Wigler,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Feb. 2025
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The Hoosiers have too often been embarrassed during Woodson’s four seasons.—
Scott Dochterman,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hard-pressed
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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