Synonyms of hard
-
as in ruthless 
-
as in difficult
-
as in sturdy
-
as in reasonable
-
as in tough
-
as in intense
-
as in strict
-
as in solid
-
as in stable
-
as in sore
-
as in stubborn
-
as in historical
-
as in intensively
-
as in bitterly
-
as in strongly
-
as in close
-
as in harshly
-
Try This Instead
-
Synonym Chooser
-
Example Sentences
-
Phrases Containing
-
Entries Near
-
Related Articles
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
clearing land is hard work a hard exam to pass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tough
difficult to endure
the hard life of a migrant farm worker
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a carpet that withstood years of hard wear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment
maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination
we took a much-needed break after working hard all week a hard-won victory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
took the news of their grandfather's death hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
hard work
hard choices
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
The club’s board have not signed any defenders — when Ancelotti and his staff have expressed their desire for reinforcements in the last three transfer windows — and injuries have bitten hard in that position.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 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
Martin’s work has taken on a furious pace in the past few months amid the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion protocols and health, welfare and Medicaid cuts that will fall hard on vulnerable Black Americans.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
The club’s board have not signed any defenders — when Ancelotti and his staff have expressed their desire for reinforcements in the last three transfer windows — and injuries have bitten hard in that position.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard
Adjective
-
But when the ruthless Mafia boss Nicola Grimaldi discovers his young son has been kidnapped and murdered, the suspect and Grimaldi’s former friend Vito seeks refuge with police.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The way to move up in your organization might require being ruthless.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
It’s built from a sturdy metal base with a solid wood and plywood frame and has a swivel design that rotates 360 degrees.—
Megan Schaltegger,
People.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
But in her 2017 review of the first season, New Yorker critic Emily Nussbaum (who won the Pulitzer Prize just a year earlier) framed her critique in the sturdy housing of history.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ars wrote more about why this is a reasonable path forward last September.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Given that this decline coincided with the large-scale movement of the US Commercial fishing fleet into those waters, the idea that overfishing might have something to do with it seemed a reasonable hypothesis.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s likely a tough pill to swallow for Gomez, who typically launches her albums at No. 1.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
After some tough matchups in the Trader Joe’s Elite Sweets Tournament, one classic emerged as the champion.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The missions became more intense as Japan's outlook grew more dire and the military showcased the sacrifice of the pilots to drum up patriotism and support for the war.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Her message prompted an intense, impassioned reaction.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
First, monitor how Asian hubs respond to the surprising success of Singapore’s stricter regime - will Hong Kong double down on flexibility or pivot toward stability?—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Some venues, such as London's fabric, encourage a phone-free environment through guidance rather than strict enforcement.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Pair it with a solid set of dinnerware and let your party guests fight over who gets the special plate.—
Erika Owen,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Arsenal comes in with solid form, having no losses in their last six matches, going 2-2-0 in the Premier League and 1-1-0 in the Champions League.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share