hard

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhärd 

harder; hardest

1

a

: not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure

hard surfaces

an uncomfortably hard chair

b

of cheese : not capable of being spread : very firm

2

a(1)

of wine or beer : having a bitter or acidic taste

(2)

: having a high concentration of alcohol

hard spirits like vodka and whiskey

b

of beverages : containing alcohol

hard seltzer/lemonade/cider

c

: characterized by the presence of salts (as of calcium or magnesium) that prevent soap from lathering

hard water

3

a

: of or relating to radiation of relatively high penetrating power : having high energy

hard X-rays

b

: having or producing relatively great photographic contrast

a hard negative

4

a

: metallic as distinct from paper

hard money

b

of currency : convertible into gold : stable in value

c

: usable as currency

paid in hard cash

d

of currency : readily acceptable in international trade

e

: being high and unlikely to change

hard prices

5

a

: firmly and closely twisted

hard yarns

b

of fabrics : having a smooth close napless finish

a hard worsted

6

a

: physically fit

in good hard condition

b

: resistant to stress or disease : hardy

a hard plant

c

: free of weakness : unyielding

a man of hard unbending will

7

a(1)

: firm, definite

reached a hard agreement

(2)

: not speculative or conjectural : factual

hard evidence

(3)

: important or informative rather than sensational or entertaining

hard news

(4)

: expressed in a clear and decisive way : leaving no doubt

Offers to install an electric door opener at her own expense were met with a hard no from the garage landlords, whose old-fashioned sensibilities dictated that their tenants use multiple manual locks to secure the space.

—Ronnie Koenig

The editor [Gene Policinski] said he told Ashe that "USA Today does not print unconfirmed stories from unattributed sources, but in the absence of a hard denial, or confirmation, the information seemed credible and we would continue to pursue the story."

—William C. Rhoden

see also hard pass

b

: close, searching

gave a hard look

c

: free from sentimentality or illusion : realistic

good hard sense

d

: unlikely to respond in a kind or sympathetic way : unfeeling

a hard heart

8

a(1)

: difficult to bear or endure

hard luck

hard times

(2)

: oppressive, inequitable

sales taxes are hard on the poor

a hard restriction

b(1)

: lacking consideration, compassion, or gentleness : callous

a hard greedy landlord

(2)

: incapable of being corrected or disciplined : tough, unruly

a hard gang

c(1)

: harsh, severe, or offensive in tendency or effect

said some hard things

(2)

: marked by resentment

hard feelings

(3)

: strict, unrelenting

drives a hard bargain

d

: inflicting physical discomfort or hardship : inclement

hard winter

e(1)

: intense in force, manner, or degree

hard blows

(2)

: demanding the exertion of energy : calling for stamina and endurance

hard work

(3)

: performing or carrying on with great energy, intensity, or persistence

a hard worker

f

: most unyielding or thoroughgoing

the hard political right

9

a

: characterized by sharp or harsh outline, rigid execution, and stiff drawing

hard forms

b

: sharply defined : stark

hard shadows

c

: lacking in shading, delicacy, or resonance

hard singing tones

d

: sounding as in candy and geese respectively

—used of c and g

the word arc is pronounced with a hard c

e

: suggestive of toughness or insensitivity

hard eyes

10

a(1)

: difficult to accomplish or resolve : troublesome

hard problems

The true story was hard to come by.

(2)

: difficult to comprehend or explain

a hard concept

b

: having difficulty in doing something

hard of hearing

c

: difficult to magnetize or demagnetize

11

: being at once addictive and gravely detrimental to health

such hard drugs as heroin

12

: resistant to biodegradation

hard detergents

hard pesticides such as DDT

13

: being, schooled in, or using the methods of the natural sciences and especially of the physical sciences

a hard scientist

14

of money : contributed (as by individuals or political action committees) directly to a particular candidate or campaign

hard

2 of 2

adverb

1

a

: with great or utmost effort or energy : strenuously

were hard at work

b

: in a violent manner : fiercely

hit the ball hard

The wind was blowing hard.

c

: to the full extent

—usually used in nautical directions

steer hard aport

d

: to an immoderate degree

been drinking hard lately

e

: in a searching, close, or concentrated manner

stared hard at me

2

a

: in such a manner as to cause hardship, difficulty, or pain

The economic downturn has hit the poor especially hard.

b

: with rancor, bitterness, or grief

took the defeat hard

3

: in a firm manner : tightly

hold on hard

4

: to the point of hardness

frozen hard

5

: close in time or space

stands hard by the river

Synonyms

Adjective

• affectless
• callous
• case-hardened
• cold-blooded
• compassionless
• desensitized
• hard-boiled
• hard-hearted
• heartless
• indurate
• inhuman
• inhumane
• insensate
• insensitive
• ironhearted
• merciless
• obdurate
• pachydermatous
• pitiless
• remorseless
• ruthless
• slash-and-burn
• soulless
• stony
• stoney
• stonyhearted
• take-no-prisoners
• thick-skinned
• uncharitable
• unfeeling
• unmerciful
• unsparing
• unsympathetic

Adverb

• amain
• arduously
• assiduously
• determinedly
• diligently
• doggedly
• hardly
• industriously
• intensely
• intensively
• intently
• laboriously
• mightily
• purposefully
• resolutely
• sedulously
• slavishly
• strenuously

Choose the Right Synonym for hard

hard, difficult, arduous mean demanding great exertion or effort.

hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.

the difficult ascent of the mountain

arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

Examples of hard in a Sentence

Adjective

She was asked a lot of hard questions.

We're going to have to make some hard choices.

It was very hard to find a replacement for her.

Their story is hard to believe.

It's hard not to worry about her.

It's hard to tell what she's thinking.

He has learned a hard lesson.

His health has suffered from years of hard living.

This old bicycle has obviously gotten some hard use.

Adverb

You have to work hard in order to succeed.

I know how hard she tried.

She ran as hard as she could.

We've thought long and hard about this problem.

He hit the ball hard.

The ball hit him hard on the wrist.

He pressed his nose hard against the window.

She pushed hard against the door, but it wouldn't open.

The wind was blowing hard.

The snow came down hard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas. —Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023

Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023

Adverb

While full repeal of the act may be unlikely, an administration hostile to clean energy could divert its unspent funds to other purposes, slow the pace of grants or loans by slow-walking project approvals, or find other ways to make the tax incentives harder to get. —James Morton Turner, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2024

The misconception that working harder could prevent or treat depression may further stigmatize those who are affected and discourage them from seeking treatment. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English heard; akin to Old High German hart hard, Greek kratos strength

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hard

• a hard/tough act to follow
• a hard/tough nut (to crack)
• as hard as nails
• a tough/hard row to hoe
• be hard/tough to beat
• between a rock and a hard place
• between the rock and the hard place
• close/hard/hot on someone's or something's heels
• come down hard on
• come/follow close/hard/hot on something's heels
• come/follow close/hard/hot on the heels of (something)
• die hard
• drive a hard bargain
• give (someone) a hard time
• hard-and-fast
• hard as a rock
• hard-ass
• hard-bitten
• hard-boil
• hard-boiled
• hard by
• hard candy
• hard case
• hard cash
• hard-charging
• hard cheese
• hard cider
• hard clam
• hard coal
• hard-coated
• hard-cooked
• hard copy
• hard core
• hard currency
• hard disk
• hard done by
• hard-drinking
• hard drive
• hard-driving
• hard-earned
• hard-edge
• hard-edged
• hard-eyed
• hard feelings
• hard-fought
• hard goods
• hard hat
• hard-hearted
• hard/heavy going
• hard-hit
• hard-hitting
• hard-knock
• hard knocks
• hard labor
• hard-line
• hard lines
• hard-luck
• hard maple
• hard-nosed
• hard of hearing
• hard-on
• hard palate
• hard pass
• hard-paste porcelain
• hard pine
• hard-pressed
• hard put
• hard rock
• hard rocker
• hard rubber
• hard sauce
• hard science
• hard sell
• hard-set
• hard-shell
• hard-shell clam
• hard-shell crab
• hard-shelled
• hard shoulder
• hard stone
• hard time
• hard-times token
• hard to overemphasize
• hard to take
• hard up
• hard-wearing
• hard wheat
• hard-won
• have a hard time
• hit hard
• no hard feelings
• old habits die hard
• play hard to get
• rock-hard
• Take a hard pass
• the hard stuff
• the hard way
• very hard

Kids Definition

hard

1 of 2 adjective

ˈhärd 

1

: not easily penetrated, cut, or divided into parts : not soft

2

a

: high in alcoholic content

hard cider

b

: containing substances that prevent lathering with soap

hard water

3

: stable and high in value and often convertible into gold

hard currency

4

a

: physically fit

b

: resistant to stress or disease

c

: free of weakness or defects

5

a

: firm entry 1 sense 2a, definite

a hard agreement

b

: based on clear fact

hard evidence

c

: being thorough, intense, and searching

a hard look

d

: lacking sympathy or tender feelings : unfeeling

a hard heart

6

a

: difficult to endure : harsh, severe

hard words

a hard winter

b

: resentful sense 2

hard feelings

c

: strict sense 1

drives a hard bargain

d

: physically or mentally difficult

a hard problem

hard work

7

: diligent, energetic

a hard worker

8

a

: sharply or harshly defined or outlined

hard shadows

b

: sounding as in cold and geese respectively

—used of c and g

hard

2 of 2 adverb

1

a

: with great effort or energy

work hard

try hard

b

: in a violent manner : fiercely

the wind blew hard

2

a

: in such a manner as to cause hardship, bitterness, or pain

the storm hit them hard

b

: with bitterness or grief

took the defeat hard

3

: in a firm manner : tightly

hold hard to something

4

: to the point of hardness

dry hard

5

: close in time or space

the school stood hard by a river

Medical Definition

hard

adjective

ˈhärd 

1

: not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure

2

a

of liquor : strongly alcoholic

specifically : having an alcoholic content of more than 22.5 percent

b

: characterized by the presence of salts (as of calcium or magnesium) that prevent lathering with soap

hard water

3

: of or relating to radiation of relatively high penetrating power

hard X-rays

4

a

: physically fit

in good hard condition

b

: resistant to stress (as disease)

5

: being at once addictive and gravely detrimental to health

such hard drugs as heroin

6

: resistant to biodegradation

hard detergents

hard pesticides like DDT

hardness noun