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   hard

   /hɑːd/

   adjective

   • 1. solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced: "the slate broke on the hard floor" Similar firmsoliddenserigidstiffresistantunbreakableinflexibleunpliableimpenetrableunyieldingsolidifiedhardenedcompactcompactedsteelytoughstrongstonyrocklikeflintyclose-packedcompressedas hard as ironas hard as stonefrozenrare:adamantineunmalleablerenitentOpposite soft
   • ▪ (of a person) not showing any signs of weakness; tough: "only a handful are hard enough to join the SAS"
   • ▪ (of prices of shares, commodities, etc.) high and stable; firm.
   • 2. done with a great deal of force or strength: "a hard whack" Similar forcefulheavystrongsharpsmartviolentpowerfulvigorousmightyheftytremendousOpposite light
   • 3. requiring a great deal of endurance or effort: "airship-flying was pretty hard work" Similar arduousstrenuoustiringfatiguingexhaustingwearyingback-breakinggruellingheavylaboriousdifficulttaxingexactingtestingchallengingdemandingpunishingtoughformidableonerousrigorousuphillHerculeaninformal:murderouskillinghellishknackeringrare:toilsomeexigentdifficultpuzzlingperplexingbafflingbewilderingmystifyingknottythornyticklishproblematicenigmaticcomplicatedcomplexintricateinvolvedtangledinsolubleunfathomableimpenetrableincomprehensibleunanswerableinformal:spinymind-bendinggnarlyrare:insolvablewilderingOpposite easysimple
   • ▪ putting a lot of energy into an activity: "he'd been a hard worker all his life" Similar diligenthard-workingindustrioussedulousassiduousconscientiousenergetickeenenthusiasticzealousearnestperseveringpersistentunflagginguntiringindefatigablestudiousOpposite lazy
   • ▪ difficult to bear; causing suffering: "times were hard at the end of the war" Similar harshgrimdifficultbadbleakdiretoughaustereunpleasantdisagreeableuncomfortableintolerableunendurableunbearableinsupportablestraitenedspartandarkseveredistressingpainfulawfulOpposite comfortableluxurious
   • ▪ difficult to understand or solve: "this is a really hard question"
   • ▪ not showing sympathy or affection; strict: "he can be such a hard taskmaster" Similar strictharshfirmseveresterntoughrigorousdemandingexactingunkindunfriendlyunsympatheticcoldheartlesshard-heartedcold-heartedunfeelingintransigentunbendinguncompromisinginflexibleintolerantimplacablestubbornobdurateunyieldingunrelentingunsparinglacking compassiongrimruthlessmercilessoppressivetyrannicalpitilesscallouscruelviciousunjustunfairstanding no nonsenseruling with a rod of ironinformal:hard-boiledbadasssolidOpposite easy-goingkind
   • ▪ (of a season or the weather) severe: "it's been a long, hard winter" Similar bitterly coldcoldbitterharshsevereextremebleakfreezingicyicy-coldarcticpolarSiberianglacialinformal:BalticOpposite mild
   • ▪ harsh or unpleasant to the senses: "the hard light of morning" Similar harshgrimdifficultbadbleakdiretoughaustereunpleasantdisagreeableuncomfortableintolerableunendurableunbearableinsupportablestraitenedspartandarkseveredistressingpainfulawfulOpposite comfortableluxurious
   • ▪ (of wine) harsh or sharp to the taste, especially because of tannin.
   • 4. (of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated: "hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive" Similar reliabledefinitetrueactualconfirmedundeniableindisputableunquestionableverifiableplaincoldbareboldharshunvarnishedunembellishedOpposite unverified
   • ▪ (of a subject of study) dealing with precise and verifiable facts: "efforts to turn psychology into hard science"
   • ▪ denoting an extreme or dogmatic faction within a political party: "the hard left"
   • ▪ (of science fiction) dealing with technological advances which do not contravene currently accepted scientific laws or principles: "a hard SF novel"
   • 5. strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine. Similar alcoholicstrongintoxicatinginebriatingstiffpotentspirituousvinousintoxicantOpposite non-alcoholiclow-alcohol
   • ▪ (of a drug) potent and addictive. Similar addictivehabit-formingcausing dependencystrongharmfulnarcoticOpposite soft
   • ▪ (of radiation) highly penetrating.
   • ▪ (of pornography) highly obscene and explicit.
   • 6. (of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult: "hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water"
   • 7. (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.
   • ▪ (of a man) having an erect penis.
   • 8. (of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

   adverb

   • 1. with a great deal of effort: "they work hard at school" Similar diligentlyindustriouslyassiduouslyconscientiouslysedulouslybusilyintenselyenthusiasticallyenergeticallyearnestlypersistentlydoggedlysteadilyindefatigablyuntiringlyall outwith applicationwith perseveranceinformal:like madlike crazylike billy-owith difficultywith effortafter a strugglepainfullyarduouslylaboriouslyOpposite lackadaisicallyeasily
   • ▪ with a great deal of force; violently: "it was raining hard" Similar forcefullyforciblyfiercelyroughlypowerfullystronglystrenuouslyheavilysharplyvigorouslyintenselyenergeticallywith all one's mightwith might and mainwith vigourwith forcewith great effortheavilystronglyintenselyin torrentsin sheetscats and dogssteadilyinformal:bucketsbucketloadsstair rodspitchforksOpposite gentlylightly
   • 2. so as to be solid or firm: "the mortar has set hard"
   • 3. to the fullest extent possible: "put the wheel hard over to starboard"

   noun

   • 1. a road leading down across a foreshore. British

   Word Origin Old Englishhard, heard, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hard and German hart.

   Derivatives

   • 1. hardish adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • H

     4

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • D

     2

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