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
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
But if the House can squeeze its plan through incredibly tight margins, the Senate will be hard-pressed to refuse it.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of references that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out, including his 2024 feud with Drake.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
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
But if the House can squeeze its plan through incredibly tight margins, the Senate will be hard-pressed to refuse it.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Compton, California, native and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper was the headline performer at Super Bowl 59, with special guest SZA, and his performance included plenty of references that some non-rap fans may be hard-pressed to figure out, including his 2024 feud with Drake.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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Fans were a bit perplexed in the comments of the video.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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In the clip, Doncic seems perplexed that happened, and ultimately shrugs it off.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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More than a year later, the campus remains in a state of bewildered unease.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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But for many bewildered observers, both explanations for Trump’s extraordinary pivot to the Kremlin seem equally misplaced.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask about benefits.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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But patriarch Samuel prefers to remain off camera, already embarrassed after being forced to give up his medical practice after getting prison time for health care fraud.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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