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
Even if the main factors behind a further acceleration in year-on-year inflation are base effects, the Fed would be hard-pressed to cut interest rates in that environment.
—
Jason Schenker, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
This did, unfortunately, mean that Google was hard-pressed to provide a definitive answer without knowing the sending domain or seeing any example email messages.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Kansas City has been hard-pressed to find a second receiver that can match Hopkins, and that might be the case now.
—James Brizuela, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
But Chicago will be hard-pressed to improve literacy results without libraries.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hard-pressed 
Jason Schenker, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
This did, unfortunately, mean that Google was hard-pressed to provide a definitive answer without knowing the sending domain or seeing any example email messages.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Kansas City has been hard-pressed to find a second receiver that can match Hopkins, and that might be the case now.
—James Brizuela, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
But Chicago will be hard-pressed to improve literacy results without libraries.
—Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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He’s likewise perplexed that heavy industry is to be entrusted with solving the climate crisis.Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
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But something’s also got Kat looking very perplexed, and given that this is The Way Home, the mysterious source of her confusion could be anything from a time-travel twist to a relationship speedbump.Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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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Yes, Sam Darnold looked bewildered against Detroit in the regular season finale, and that conjures all sorts of lingering doubts.Jordan Brenner, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore brought different weapons to this cute fight: bobcat Kilgore and otter Brie, both seeming a little bewildered by the powder that surrounded them today.NBC News, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Landfill, feedlot, and wastewater treatment operators will also be embarrassed.Rob Jackson, WIRED, 7 Jan. 2025
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Jimenez appeared embarrassed but laughed off the moment.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 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 Jan. 2025.
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