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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8
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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12
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
Example 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
Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
The 10 Best Movies Leaving Netflix In March 2025
Aftersun (2022)
Few movies from the 2020s have hit me quite as hard as Aftersun, a movie about not only dealing with depression, but being close to somebody dealing with depression.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 15 Mar. 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
None of this is meant to suggest that men like Musk and Ramaswamy have not worked hard to achieve their wealth.
—Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
The 10 Best Movies Leaving Netflix In March 2025
Aftersun (2022)
Few movies from the 2020s have hit me quite as hard as Aftersun, a movie about not only dealing with depression, but being close to somebody dealing with depression.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
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The film follows Bryan, a Korean American teenager who wants out of his ruthless gang the Goblins, setting the stage for gang retribution against him.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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But Harrison’s anti-expansionist successor, Grover Cleveland, abhorred the ruthless U.S. meddling in Hawaiian affairs.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The worst of this is during residency, where 80-plus hour work weeks, 24-plus hour shifts, and difficult on-call schedules are the norm.—
Christopher M. Worsham,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
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On the other hand lies the more difficult but ultimately more promising path: repudiation of that post-2008 legacy and a conscientious return to a politics of the prudential center.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Parker Hall The Best Workout Headphones for Moving Around Constantly Rock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones.—
Brad Bourque,
WIRED,
15 Mar. 2025
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The exterior is made from a sturdy and durable polycarbonate material that won’t easily wear and tear, even after longhaul travel.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In addition, corporations have to determine what a reasonable wage is, which typically requires the help of an accountant.—
Vlad Rusz,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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And most of the reason is there’s too much government regulation keeping people from being able to build houses at a reasonable cost.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Another really tough stretch is ahead for the Heat.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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The only trick: Choose a dye that’s gentle on the hair, tough on grays, and easy to apply.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Last year, intense protests and riots against immigration erupted throughout England after 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana stabbed and killed young girls at a dance class.—
Abigail Anthony,
National Review,
8 Mar. 2025
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This film transitions between moments of intense governmental and political drama, and moments of sympathetic, emotional anguish with the Hernandez family.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But in fact, some parents warn against helicopter parenting, and strict parenting can actually result in more rebellious kids.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2025
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While strict organ specificity was observed for only six diseases, most conditions exhibited partial organ specificity.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Still, in a game that featured an abundance of high-level basketball, even a solid game from Brown might have been enough.—
Jay King,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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The silver lining was that even though COST didn’t reclaim its all-time, 2022 highs until December 2023, short-term oversold conditions still led to solid buying opportunities along the way.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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