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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in barely
by a very small margin
we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sadly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in hard
with great effort or determination
the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardly
Relaxing with other The White Lotus cast members in the upper rafters of Phuket’s Bangla Muay Thai Stadium, the 35-year-old former nightclub bouncer, soldier, and talent show contestant can hardly believe his luck.
—
Charlie Campbell / Phuket, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Risks and Precautions Laparoscopy for endometriosis is generally safe, hardly causing serious problems.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 15 Feb. 2025
During the court proceedings, RZA, 2½, and Riot, 18 months, were well behaved and hardly made any noise.
—Daniela Avila, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Intensively used hoes hardly lasted longer than a year, so demand kept increasing.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Charlie Campbell / Phuket, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Risks and Precautions Laparoscopy for endometriosis is generally safe, hardly causing serious problems.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 15 Feb. 2025
During the court proceedings, RZA, 2½, and Riot, 18 months, were well behaved and hardly made any noise.
—Daniela Avila, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Intensively used hoes hardly lasted longer than a year, so demand kept increasing.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardly
Adverb
-
Countries threatened by China’s rise have to invest in security measures no matter what happens in and around Taiwan.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The shooting is also the end of a saga that offers a glimpse into the limitations of a system dependent on people’s cooperation and consent for mental health treatment and family intervention, no matter how urgently that help is needed. .—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
America’s automakers have gotten back in the fast lane toward economic dominance, but the race with foreign competitors has barely begun.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
-
By the time Bishop’s case went to trial, Carbon Nation’s core membership numbered barely more than a half dozen.—
David Peisner,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Oscar sadly is too prim and proper to reward its raw sexuality.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
-
And your institution is, sadly, more relevant than it’s been in a long time.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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As Ryan suggested, Squires has worked hard to earn minutes for more than his shooting acumen.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Republicans worked hard in recent years to court Venezuelan American voters in Florida, convinced that their party’s focus on law and order and attacks on socialism could win over the fast-growing group.—
Patricia Mazzei,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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Approximately 75,000 federal employees took buyouts before news of layoffs rolled in, though some have since reported the payments never came through.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
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For Rizzo, Game 5 is in the past, though the memory might never fade.—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Freshman Allie Ziebell also hit just the fifth 3-pointer of the game for UConn off the bench.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2025
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The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. as the Senate was poised to discuss its final appropriation bills for the day, according to Mississippi Today.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
The king stares intently into an eternal distance through composite orbs fashioned from alabaster and glass, rendered in varying degrees of clarity, transparency and opacity.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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Clad in a menswear-style white shirt and necktie, Rihanna followed the morning session intently.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardly. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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