hard
Comparative
harder
Superlative
hardest
1
needing a lot of skill or effort to do
- Learning to play the piano at a professional level is hard and requires years of practice.
- Writing a novel can be hard, as it requires creativity, discipline, and perseverance.
- Mastering a new language can be hard, especially if it has a complex grammar and vocabulary.
- Performing surgery is hard and requires precise skills and years of medical training.
- Completing a marathon is hard, but many people train hard to achieve this goal.
Antonyms:
2
very difficult to cut, bend, or break
- She prefers hard cheese like cheddar over soft cheese.
- The apples were too hard to bite into.
- The diamond is the hardest known natural material.
- The hard shell of the crab protects it from predators.
- The surface of the table was hard and smooth.
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4
(of a sound) pronounced by moving the back of the tongue toward the velum
- In the word "cat," the "c" is a hard sound.
- The letter "g" in "go" makes a hard sound, unlike its soft counterpart in "giant."
- He struggled to distinguish between the hard and soft sounds of certain letters.
- The hard "k" sound is common in words like "key" and "kite."
- She practiced the pronunciation of hard consonants like "t" and "p."
Antonyms:
5
(of light) producing sharp contrasts and clearly defined shadows
- The hard light made the shapes stand out.
- She used hard light to accentuate the details.
- Hard light creates crisp, well-defined edges.
- The photo looked more dramatic with hard light.
- The hard lighting made the textures more pronounced.
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6
(of alcoholic beverages) haiving a high alcohol content, often used to describe spirits like whiskey, vodka, or rum
- He prefers hard liquor over beer.
- At the party, they served mostly hard drinks, including gin and tequila.
- The bar offers a variety of hard spirits, including bourbon and scotch.
- She decided to stick with hard alcohol for the evening.
- The bartender recommended a hard drink to accompany the spicy food.
Synonyms:
7
difficult to endure or experience, often related to misfortune
- He had hard luck finding a job after graduation.
- It was hard to watch the team lose after such a strong start.
- She’s been through some hard times, but always keeps a smile.
- After the accident, she had hard times adjusting to her new circumstances.
Synonyms:
8
stiff or tough due to lack of moisture
- The bread was hard and stale after sitting out overnight.
- The cookies were so hard they could break your teeth.
- The cake became hard after being left in the fridge for too long.
- He couldn’t eat the hard crust of the bread; it was too dry.
9
(of water) high in dissolved salts, particularly calcium and magnesium
- Hard water left white spots on the dishes after they dried.
- The plumber recommended a water softener because the house had hard water.
- Hard water can clog pipes over time, leading to costly repairs.
- The detergent didn’t work well in the hard water, leaving a film on the clothes.
- Hard water is more prevalent in areas with high mineral content in the soil.
10
(of radiation) having relatively high penetrating power or energy, such as X-rays or gamma rays
- Hard radiation is capable of passing through thick materials like concrete.
- X-rays are a type of hard radiation used in medical imaging.
- Gamma rays, being a form of hard radiation, can penetrate most solid objects.
- The laboratory uses hard radiation sources for experiments in material science.
- Hard radiation poses a greater risk to health compared to softer radiation types.
11
based on solid, verifiable evidence or facts
- The journalist presented hard facts about the crime wave in the city.
- We need to focus on hard data rather than speculation when making decisions.
- The report provided hard evidence to support the claims of corporate fraud.
- He only trusts hard facts, not rumors or hearsay.
- The research relied on hard statistics to prove the effectiveness of the new treatment.
12
(of subjects) relying on measurable, verifiable data or facts
- Physics is considered a hard science because it focuses on empirical data and testable theories.
- Mathematics is a hard subject, with clear, objective solutions.
- Efforts to transform sociology into a hard science have sparked significant debate.
- The hard sciences are often seen as more rigorous due to their reliance on concrete evidence.
- Chemistry is a hard science, emphasizing experiments and reproducible results.
13
showing an uncompromising or rigid approach, often in politics or opinions
- The senator's hard approach on immigration reform alienated moderate voters.
- The debate became more intense as both sides took hard positions on healthcare.
- A hard stance on environmental policies led to protests from industry groups.
- He joined the hard right wing of the party, pushing for stricter policies.
- The hard views of the candidates sparked heated discussions among their supporters.
Synonyms:
14
(of a body part) becoming stiff or firm, often in response to certain feelings or physical reactions
- It’s common for certain body parts to become hard when they are stimulated.
- The body's natural response in certain situations is to become hard or tense.
- During moments of intense focus, some people notice their muscles become hard from the concentration.
- The doctor explained that the condition made the tissue feel hard in certain areas of the body.