1
as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in no
certainly not
I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager
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3
as in barely
by a very small margin
we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in
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4
as in sadly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly
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5
as in hard
with great effort or determination
the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardly
Staten Island's feelings toward Trump have hardly changed during the Biden administration.
—
Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Yet the former president is hardly the only person refusing to directly answer such a query.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Although their legacy may be as German Mother Geese, the brothers regarded their fairy-tale volumes as one project among many, and hardly the most important.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
The house, which dates to the 1st century CE, is hardly the only ancient Roman site here to contain erotic imagery.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hardly 
Giulia Carbonaro, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Yet the former president is hardly the only person refusing to directly answer such a query.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Although their legacy may be as German Mother Geese, the brothers regarded their fairy-tale volumes as one project among many, and hardly the most important.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
The house, which dates to the 1st century CE, is hardly the only ancient Roman site here to contain erotic imagery.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardly
Adverb
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Ostensibly, this is Wyler calling Penn unfit, and The Diplomat spins it as more evidence of Wyler’s sacrifice, her willingness to do what’s best for her country no matter what.Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Fortunately, Saldaña — the main character here no matter what any potential Awards nominations might claim — is an extremely gifted actor, singer and dancer, and throws herself fully into the role.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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By contrast, in the debate-free tests, the nonhuman judges answered correctly only 54% of the time, a result just barely better than flipping a coin.Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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House District 71 Former State Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, barely defended her seat in 2022 against Republican Scott Hawkins, a teacher and Jefferson city councilor, who lost by less than 300 votes.Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Those wives, whether alone or in groups, always seem to be sadly gazing at Louis from a distance, like Grizabella waiting for her moment at the Jellicle Ball.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
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Jaylen Black, vice president of marketing communications for Planned Parenthood Southeast — which operates health centers in Georgia — said that the stories are sadly unsurprising and that additional deaths have most likely gone unreported.Randi Richardson, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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While full repeal of the act may be unlikely, an administration hostile to clean energy could divert its unspent funds to other purposes, slow the pace of grants or loans by slow-walking project approvals, or find other ways to make the tax incentives harder to get.James Morton Turner, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2024
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The misconception that working harder could prevent or treat depression may further stigmatize those who are affected and discourage them from seeking treatment.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Sedona is many things, but in my book, overrated will never be one of them.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
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In these turbulent times, the role of states in safeguarding fundamental rights has never been more crucial.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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To name just one example: After an opening act filled with lurid cartel violence, Emilia Pérez gives us a comic number about gender-reassignment surgery.Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
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The Bengals just punted — the third straight drive (by either team) that’s ended in a punt and fourth overall.NBC News, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Baker seemed skeptical and confused by Republicans’ argument during Tuesday’s hearing, intently questioning lawyers for the RNC about their primary claim.Ella Lee, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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At times, the panel asked several pointed questions to James’s team of lawyers, while the judges appeared to listen more intently to the defense’s argument at other moments.Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hardly
Cite this Entry
“Hardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardly. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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