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Definitions

hard

[hahrd] / hɑrd /
ADJECTIVE
rocklike
Synonyms
STRONGEST
solid strong tough
STRONG
concentrated
WEAK
adamantine callous compact compacted compressed consolidated dense firm hardened impenetrable indurate indurated inflexible iron packed rigid rocky set stiff stony thick unyielding
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delicate soft vulnerable weak
WEAK
flexible malleable pliable pliant yielding
ADJECTIVE
difficult, exhausting
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arduous complicated heavy rough serious terrible tough troublesome
WEAK
backbreaking bothersome burdensome demanding difficile distressing effortful exacting fatiguing formidable grinding hairy herculean intricate involved irksome knotty labored laborious mean merciless murder onerous operose rigorous rugged scabrous severe slavish sticky strenuous tiring toilful toilsome unsparing uphill uphill battle wearing wearisome wearying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy facile
WEAK
flexible simple
ADJECTIVE
cruel, ruthless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak grim harsh painful tough
WEAK
acrimonious angry antagonistic austere bitter brutal callous cold cold fish cold-blooded dark disagreeable distressing dour exacting grievous hard as nails hard-boiled hostile inclement intemperate intolerable obdurate perverse pitiless rancorous resentful rigorous rugged severe stern strict stringent stubborn thick-skinned unfeeling unjust unkind unpleasant unrelenting unsparing unsympathetic vengeful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful easygoing gentle kind nice pleasant
WEAK
flexible merciful mild pliable sensitive soft sympathetic
ADJECTIVE
true, indisputable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
positive sure
WEAK
absolute actual bare cold definite down-to-earth genuine plain practical pragmatic realistic undeniable unvarnished verified
Antonyms
STRONGEST
doubtful indefinite uncertain unsure
WEAK
disputable inexact questionable sympathetic untrue
ADVERB
with great force
Synonyms
STRONGEST
heavily seriously strongly vigorously
STRONG
severely
WEAK
actively angrily animatedly boisterously briskly brutally cruelly earnestly energetically ferociously fiercely forcibly frantically furiously intensely keenly like fury madly meanly painfully powerfully relentlessly rigorously roughly rowdily savagely sharply spiritedly sprightly stormily tumultuously turbulently uproariously urgently viciously violently vivaciously wildly with all one's might
Antonyms
STRONGEST
lightly
WEAK
easily gently moderately softly tolerantly yielding
ADVERB
with determination
Synonyms
STRONGEST
closely
WEAK
assiduously diligently doggedly earnestly exhaustively industriously intensely intensively intently painstakingly persistently searchingly sharply steadily strenuously thoroughly unremittingly untiringly
Antonyms
WEAK
easily gently moderately softly tolerantly unenthusiastically yielding
ADVERB
with difficulty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
badly vigorously
STRONG
severely
WEAK
agonizingly arduously awkwardly burdensomely carefully cumbersomely cumbrously distressingly exhaustingly gruelingly hardly harshly inconveniently laboriously painfully ponderously roughly strenuously tiredly toilsomely unwieldily with great effort
Antonyms
WEAK
easily
ADVERB
with resentment
Synonyms
WEAK
bitterly hardly keenly rancorously reluctantly slowly sorely
Antonyms
WEAK
easily enthusiastically indulgently tolerantly
ADVERB
in a fixed manner
Synonyms
STRONGEST
close fast tight
STRONG
firmly
WEAK
firm solidly steadfastly tightly
Antonyms
WEAK
easily gently moderately unfixedly yielding

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.

Was it hard to balance that tonally with his great accomplishments in basketball?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

It’s hard to debunk false claims “coming with the seal of the federal government,” said Derek Tisler, counsel and manager with the Brennan Center for Justice’s elections and government program.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

"It was always going to be hard to beat Gordon's speech," said Peaty.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Asian nations have been particularly hard hit due to a sharp fall in the crude shipments they rely on -- and have few alternatives to replace them.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

It was hard to see Tansy around her.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Vocabulary lists containing hard

"Mother to Son"

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"Mother to Son"

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