as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
it was hard to eke out even a bare existence on the hardscrabble lands
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardscrabble
Luke Richardson tried in vain to coax that tenacity out of him in the NHL, often pairing him with hardscrabble players to encourage a tougher mindset.
—
Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
The film’s setting also helps transcend time, evoking the smallness of its hardscrabble world, filled with the details of the period.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 7 July 2024
The combination of James Cagney (Rocky Sullivan), Humphrey Bogart (James Frazier) and director Michael Curtiz makes this Depression-era crime drama one that reinforces the idea that America was made in the streets of immigrant, segregated, hardscrabble neighborhoods.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
This hardscrabble bunch of journalists and technicians is right at the coalface of the struggle against censorship.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hardscrabble 
Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
The film’s setting also helps transcend time, evoking the smallness of its hardscrabble world, filled with the details of the period.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 7 July 2024
The combination of James Cagney (Rocky Sullivan), Humphrey Bogart (James Frazier) and director Michael Curtiz makes this Depression-era crime drama one that reinforces the idea that America was made in the streets of immigrant, segregated, hardscrabble neighborhoods.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
This hardscrabble bunch of journalists and technicians is right at the coalface of the struggle against censorship.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hardscrabble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardscrabble
Adjective
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Although Mars is known for being a dry and desolate desert, its landscape hasn’t always been so hostile.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
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At first glance, the entire landscape looked grim and desolate.—
M. R. O’Connor,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Numerous aid workers in northern Thailand described widespread panic and confusion following the sudden suspension of aid, especially among those whose work provides life-saving services to some of the world’s most vulnerable and impoverished people on both sides of the border.—
Ivan Watson,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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Meanwhile, the sight of an unelected billionaire dismantling an agency that was set up to help the impoverished is already undermining faith in U.S. democracy.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Lost in the woods, Irving dreams of a barren forest and the MDR cubicles — with Burt (Christopher Walken) behind a desk.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2025
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The barren structure, half wrapped in glass, is particularly noticeable at night, when strings of bright construction lights illuminate every floor.—
Eric Lach,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But bleak and uncertain as things seem right now, Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred does not want to lose Tampa Bay, the No. 11 media market, which is why the hope is for a deep pocket owner (or owners) from Tampa to emerge and the Tampa stadium plan near Ybor City can be revived.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
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Suicide is pretty bleak for a Super Bowl spot, and mental health, in general, is a sensitive topic.—
Matthew Pittman,
The Conversation,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Cosgrove, a rookie revelation in 2023, is looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season.—
Dennis Lin,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hardscrabble
Cite this Entry
“Hardscrabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardscrabble. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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