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Dictionary.com

hard-won

ADJECTIVE
difficult
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambitious arduous burdensome challenging crucial demanding laborious onerous painful problematic severe strenuous tough troublesome
WEAK
backbreaker bothersome difficile easier said than done effortful exacting formidable galling gargantuan heavy herculean immense intricate irritating labored no picnic not easy operose problem prohibitive rigid stiff titanic toilsome trying unyielding uphill upstream wearisome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy effortless facile helpful nice trivial
WEAK
calm free friendly manageable plain simple sociable straightforward uncomplicated

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.

But this truth has been hard won, for several reasons.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2025

But any agreement is likely to be hard won with flaring tensions on both sides.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2023

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said it was a "hard won victory".

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2023

For Fraser, 54, the comeback was hard won.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2023

Of course, it was not only childish defiance and her recent very unexpected and hard won self-confidence which led her to this demand.

From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka