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Definitions

hardly

[hahrd-lee] / ˈhɑrd li /
ADVERB
scarcely; with difficulty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barely comparatively practically rarely seldom simply somewhat
STRONG
just
WEAK
almost inconceivably almost not by a hair by no means detectably faintly gradually imperceptibly infrequently little no more than no way not a bit not at all not by much not likely not markedly not measurably not much not notably not noticeably not often not quite once in a blue moon only only just perceptibly pretty near scantly slightly sparsely sporadically with trouble
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently
WEAK
very

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hardly an economy that sounds as if it needs rate relief.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Hardly any other investment newsletters have publishing tenures that long.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

Hardly fleet of foot—it’s heavy, often pushing 30 pounds, and awkward—it’s seldom given a melody to play.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

Hardly anybody did that back in the day.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

Hardly any-body could tell you the name of a city councilman, or a county commissioner, or the head of the public works department, or the planning department, or the fire department.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Vocabulary lists containing hardly

"The Giving Tree"

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