as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
despite being undeniably hard up, they had too much pride to accept charity
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Recent Examples of hard up
Cleveland Browns Stadium, hard up against the Science Center lawn, was plunged into darkness.
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Once the timing of the case pushed hard up against a national election in which Trump was likely to run, forbearance would have been the proper and public-spirited course.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Jan. 2024
Considering the Heat’s position hard up against the second apron of the punitive luxury tax, 10–day contracts stand as a means to pay only when needed, 10 days at a time, at the veteran-minimum, scale.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
The Habs are getting there, incrementally, and GM Kent Hughes might have to consider surrendering the No. 5 pick if one of the 10-12 clubs hard up against the cap offers an overpayment in terms of legit NHL players under contract.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for hard up 
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Once the timing of the case pushed hard up against a national election in which Trump was likely to run, forbearance would have been the proper and public-spirited course.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Jan. 2024
Considering the Heat’s position hard up against the second apron of the punitive luxury tax, 10–day contracts stand as a means to pay only when needed, 10 days at a time, at the veteran-minimum, scale.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
The Habs are getting there, incrementally, and GM Kent Hughes might have to consider surrendering the No. 5 pick if one of the 10-12 clubs hard up against the cap offers an overpayment in terms of legit NHL players under contract.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for hard up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard up
Adjective
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Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Mason Fung’s impoverished young defendant Ma Ka Kit is arrested after receiving a package of narcotics from overseas.James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
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Since Sudan’s civil war drove a surge of refugees to Egypt starting in 2023, however, the impoverished government in Cairo has complained louder and louder about the burden of foreigners.Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If not a broke man’s Kyler Murray, Keene has a chance to be Gabriel-lite for Michigan.Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don’t want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump.Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hard up
Cite this Entry
“Hard up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard%20up. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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