Synonyms for hard
87 synonyms for “hard”, grouped by meaning. Dark green words mean nearly the same thing; light green ones are close in some uses.
Hard as in “tough”
adjective: not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
- tough
- difficult
- arduous
- rough
- rocky
- tricky
- challenging
- sticky
- nasty
- effortful
- complex
- trying
- delicate
- rugged
- serious
- troublesome
- thorny
- puzzling
- painful
- stubborn
- complicated
- uphill
- knotty
- bitter
- surd
Hard as in “hardened”
adjective: dispassionate
- hardened
- grim
- harsh
- cold
- brutal
- strict
- insensitive
- stern
- hard-boiled
- cruel
- callous
- heartless
- icy
- hostile
- rigorous
- unmoved
- dour
- forbidding
- frosty
- austere
- inflexible
- unfriendly
- thick-skinned
- hardhearted
- unsympathetic
- insensate
- steely
- intemperate
Hard as in “strong”
adjective: very strong or vigorous
- strong
- severe
- stiff
- concentrated
- severely
- critical
- intense
- robust
- sharp
- steep
Hard as in “solid”
adjective: resisting weight or pressure
- solid
- resistant
- firm
- rigid
- concrete
- sturdy
- dense
- set
- firmly
- stout
- unyielding
- granitic
- corneous
Hard as in “heavy”
adjective: characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
- heavy
- toilsome
- punishing
- laborious
- demanding
- relentless
- backbreaking
- operose
Hard as in “bad”
adjective: unfortunate or hard to bear
- bad
- mean
- cool
Can you name more synonyms for hard?
Synonym Showdown is a free word game: take turns naming synonyms, and call out anyone who’s bluffing. Play friends with a room code, go ranked, or race the clock in Score Attack.
Play now