Synonyms of hard
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as in ruthless 
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as in difficult
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as in sturdy
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as in reasonable
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as in tough
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as in intense
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as in strict
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as in solid
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as in stable
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as in sore
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as in stubborn
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as in historical
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as in intensively
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as in bitterly
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as in strongly
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as in close
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as in harshly
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1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass
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3
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate
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4
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?
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5
as in tough
difficult to endure
the hard life of a migrant farm worker
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6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a carpet that withstood years of hard wear
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7
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules
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as in solid
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
hard candies fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm
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as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong
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10
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment
maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him
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11
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path
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as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others
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1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination
we took a much-needed break after working hard all week a hard-won victory
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2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
took the news of their grandfather's death hard
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3
as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner
hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds the wind blew hard all day
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4
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time
the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse
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5
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner
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hard work
hard choices
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard
WIRED, 13 Feb. 2023
That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.
—Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
With arteriosclerosis, the arterial walls become thickened and less elastic, which can restrict blood flow and make the heart have to work harder to pump blood through the body.1
In atherosclerosis, the artery stiffness is due to plaque buildup within the arterial walls.
—Anisha Shah, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard 
Adjective
But unlike climate change, turning it around doesn’t have to be that hard, and the benefits will be felt immediately.
—WIRED, 13 Feb. 2023
That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.
—Max Olsan, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2023
Adverb
Merced, Riverside, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties were the hardest hit, with Merced County losing 1.7 million birds on December 5 and Stanislaus County seeing another 1.1 million culled by Christmas Eve.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
With arteriosclerosis, the arterial walls become thickened and less elastic, which can restrict blood flow and make the heart have to work harder to pump blood through the body.1
In atherosclerosis, the artery stiffness is due to plaque buildup within the arterial walls.
—Anisha Shah, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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But on the other hand, the data so far suggests that Wolves have a ruthless finisher on their hands.Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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The headhunter without ethics is really the ruthless Kim Hye-jin, played by Park Bo-kyung.Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
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Despite his success, Axiom’s presence in WWE is remarkable, as professional wrestling remains niche in Spain and has been difficult to find on TV.Jamie Lang, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
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However, the complexity of the systems required to control so many qubits makes scalability difficult.Peter Cohan, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This seven-piece tool set from Walmart comes with a sturdy yet lightweight stool.Fox News, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2025
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Bougainvillea scrambles from pots onto sturdy lattices.Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2024
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Louisville has many places to get a book for free or at reasonable prices — libraries, local bookstores and chains including Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books.Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 1 Jan. 2025
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To us, as individuals who frequently whip up 12-clove Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry and don’t bat an eye about adding about 48 cloves to our homemade Chili Crisp, Ina Garten’s viral Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe seems totally reasonable.Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Carro, known for his tough stance on crime and his experience with cases involving terrorism enhancements, will play a key role in shaping the trial's proceedings.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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In the streaming era, brands still matter, and studios still matter, but the companies at the heart of the entertainment business are already making tough choices about where to place their bets.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Flames were pushed by intense wind gusts that officials had warned could fuel any spark into a fast-moving and erratic wildfire.Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
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In 2021, a storm killed over 240 people and left millions of residents without power sparking intense backlash for ERCOT.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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The opinion was historic and sent shock waves throughout Washington, D.C., where law firms specializing in campaign finance had long advised their political clients that coordination between campaigns and PACs was a strict prohibition.Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024
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If the court agrees that the law survives strict scrutiny, TikTok could still be facing an abrupt shutdown in January.Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024
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Learning Foundational Knowledge And Skills Computer science degrees provide our employees with a solid working foundation in computing principles, including software engineering and data structures.Steve Taplin, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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Markets are nearing the close of a stellar year driven by a growing economy, solid consumer spending and a strong jobs market.Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
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