English dictionary

harder Meaning & Definition

ˈhärd

What Does Harder Mean?

Harder is an adjective that means not easily penetrated. It is also used to mean not capable of being spread. As an adverb, it means with great or utmost effort or energy.

Quick Facts About Harder

Part of speech	adjective, adverb
Pronunciation	/ˈhärd/
Syllables	1
Synonyms	arduous, Augean and backbreaking
Antonyms	cheap, easy and effortless

Harder Definition (Adjective)

not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure
hard surfaces / an uncomfortably hard chair
not capable of being spread : very firm
having a bitter or acidic taste
having a high concentration of alcohol
hard spirits like vodka and whiskey
containing alcohol
hard seltzer/lemonade/cider
characterized by the presence of salts (as of calcium or magnesium) that prevent soap from lathering
hard water
of or relating to radiation of relatively high penetrating power : having high energy
hard X-rays
having or producing relatively great photographic contrast
a hard negative
metallic as distinct from paper
hard money
convertible into gold : stable in value
usable as currency
paid in hard cash
readily acceptable in international trade
being high and unlikely to change
hard prices
firmly and closely twisted
hard yarns
having a smooth close napless finish
a hard worsted
physically fit
in good hard condition
resistant to stress or disease : hardy
a hard plant
free of weakness : unyielding
a man of hard unbending will
firm, definite
reached a hard agreement
not speculative or conjectural : factual
hard evidence
important or informative rather than sensational or entertaining
hard news
expressed in a clear and decisive way : leaving no doubt see also hard pass
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. / 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.
close, searching
gave me a hard look
free from sentimentality or illusion : realistic
good hard sense
unlikely to respond in a kind or sympathetic way : unfeeling
a hard heart
difficult to bear or endure
hard luck / learned a hard lesson / fell on hard times
oppressive, inequitable
Sales taxes are hard on the poor. / a hard restriction
lacking consideration, compassion, or gentleness : callous
He was a hard man, casually cruel.
incapable of being corrected or disciplined : tough, unruly
a hard gang
harsh, severe, or offensive in tendency or effect
said some hard things / years of hard living / a machine that's gotten hard use
marked by resentment
hard feelings
strict, unrelenting
drives a hard bargain
inflicting physical discomfort or hardship : inclement
a hard winter
intense in force, manner, or degree
delivered some hard blows
demanding the exertion of energy : calling for stamina and endurance
left the hard thinking to others / praised the team for all of the hard work that led to the victory
performing or carrying on with great energy, intensity, or persistence see also hard in the paint
one of our hardest workers / He was supposed to be a hard drinker, but he drank little.
most unyielding or thoroughgoing
the hard political right/left
quick and forceful
took a hard left turn
characterized by sharp or harsh outline, rigid execution, and stiff drawing
hard forms
sharply defined : stark
hard shadows
lacking in shading, delicacy, or resonance
hard singing tones
sounding as in candy and geese respectively
suggestive of toughness or insensitivity
a hard expression
difficult to accomplish or resolve : not easy
hard problems / was hard to believe / The true story was hard to come by.
difficult to comprehend or explain
a hard concept
having difficulty in doing something see also hard of hearing
hard of seeing
difficult to magnetize or demagnetize
being at once addictive and gravely detrimental to health
such hard drugs as heroin
resistant to biodegradation
hard detergents / hard pesticides such as DDT
being, schooled in, or using the methods of the natural sciences and especially of the physical sciences
a hard scientist
contributed (as by individuals or political action committees) directly to a particular candidate or campaign

Harder as an Adverb

with great or utmost effort or energy : strenuously
were hard at work
in a forceful manner : fiercely
breathing hard / hit the ball hard / The wind was blowing hard.
to the full extent
to an immoderate degree
been drinking hard lately / fell hard for the girl next door
in a searching, close, or concentrated manner
stared hard at me
in such a manner as to cause hardship, difficulty, or pain
The economic downturn has hit the poor especially hard.
with rancor, bitterness, or grief
took the defeat hard
in a firm manner : tightly
hold on hard
to the point of hardness
frozen hard
close in time or space
stands hard by the river

Synonyms of Harder

arduous Augean backbreaking challenging demanding difficult effortful exacting formidable grueling heavy hellacious herculean killer laborious moiling murderous pick-and-shovel rigorous rough rugged severe stiff strenuous sweaty tall testing toilsome tough uphill 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 stonyhearted take-no-prisoners thick-skinned uncharitable unfeeling unmerciful unsparing unsympathetic cast-iron hard-bitten hardened hardy inured stout strong sturdy toughened vigorous commonsense commonsensible commonsensical firm good informed just justified levelheaded logical rational reasonable reasoned sensible sober solid valid well-founded bitter brutal burdensome cruel excruciating grievous grim hardhanded harsh onerous oppressive searing trying acute almighty blistering deep dreadful explosive exquisite fearful fearsome ferocious fierce frightful furious ghastly heavy-duty intense intensive keen profound terrible vehement vicious violent austere authoritarian flinty heavy-handed ramrod rigid stern strict compact unyielding certain determinate final fixed flat frozen hard-and-fast inexpugnable set settled stable acrid acrimonious embittered rancorous resentful sore adamant adamantine bullheaded dogged hard-nosed hardheaded headstrong immovable implacable inconvincible inflexible intransigent mulish obstinate opinionated ossified pat pertinacious perverse pigheaded self-opinionated self-willed stiff-necked stubborn unbending uncompromising unrelenting willful documentary factual historical literal matter-of-fact nonfictional objective true amain arduously assiduously determinedly diligently doggedly hardly industriously intensely intensively intently laboriously mightily purposefully resolutely sedulously slavishly strenuously agonizingly bitterly dolefully dolorously grievously inconsolably lugubriously mournfully painfully plaintively regretfully resentfully ruefully sadly sorely sorrowfully unhappily wailfully woefully wretchedly dynamically energetically explosively firmly forcefully forcibly muscularly powerfully roundly stiffly stoutly strongly sturdily vigorously around by close in near nearby nigh brutally harshly ill oppressively roughly severely sternly

Harder synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Harder

cheap easy effortless facile light mindless simple soft undemanding achievable clear doable elementary manageable uncomplicated comforting gentle painless relaxed smooth soothing accessible friendly idiotproof user-friendly charitable compassionate humane kindhearted kindly merciful sensitive softhearted sympathetic tender tenderhearted warm warmhearted benevolent benignant kind clement indulgent lenient mild cordial good-natured good-tempered gracious tolerant understanding affectionate fond loving delicate nonhardy weak emasculated enervated enfeebled exhausted run-down sapped wasted weakened worn worn-out crippled debilitated diseased incapacitated infirm unsound fragile frail puny resistless susceptible unresistant vulnerable yielding mortal perishable temporary transient groundless illogical invalid irrational nonrational nonsensical nonvalid unfounded uninformed unjustified unreasonable unreasoned unsubstantiated unsupported unwarranted flimsy implausible unconvincing fallacious false misguided misled comfortable cozy luxurious snug agreeable genial hospitable pleasant peaceful relaxing reposeful restful bearable endurable tolerable balmy calm moderate temperate feeble shallow superficial moderated qualified alleviated eased lightened toned (down)abated decreased diminished lessened reduced subdued forbearing lax easygoing laid-back patient accepting compromising responsive willing acquiescent amenable complaisant compliant flexible pliable pliant flabby spongy squashy squishy loose scattered thin bendable elastic malleable supple droopy flaccid floppy lank limp slack airy permeable porous ultrasoft adjustable changeable negotiable indefinite open-ended unspecified capricious changeful flickery fluctuating fluid inconstant mercurial mutable temperamental uncertain unpredictable unsettled unstable unsteady variable volatile unbitter caring forgiving sweet complying relenting docile obedient placable submissive tractable persuadable receptive governable reasonable slavish subservient fictional fictionalized fictitious nondocumentary nonfactual nonhistorical unhistorical hypothetical speculative theoretical apocryphal unauthentic undocumented chimerical fabulous fanciful fantastic imaginary imagined invented legendary made-up make-believe mythical pretend embroidered exaggerated insupportable unsupportable casually desultorily halfheartedly indolently lackadaisically languidly lazily listlessly shiftlessly sluggishly spiritlessly tiredly wearily blissfully gladly happily joyfully joyously cheerfully cheerily delightedly gaily gleefully good-naturedly lightheartedly merrily mirthfully rejoicingly sunnily blithely blithesomely calmly dispassionately easily impassively indifferently lightly nonchalantly stoically unconcernedly favorably well feebly gently softly weakly delicately faintly frailly shakily bloodlessly impotently ineffectively ineffectually lamely nervelessly spinelessly uncertainly clemently leniently mildly benevolently benignantly considerately cordially graciously lovingly tenderly charitably compassionately humanely mercifully softheartedly sympathetically tolerantly understandingly

Harder in a Sentence

He is more likely to succeed because he tries harder.

Steel is harder than copper so we use steel tools to cut copper pipes.

hard evidence; a hard requirement

At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.

I got so hard watching two hot guys wrestle each other on the beach.

There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".

Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.

The letter ж in Russian is always hard.

a soft or hard copy ; a digital or hard archive

a hard reboot or reset

hard right, hard left

hard surfaces

an uncomfortably hard chair

hard spirits like vodka and whiskey

hard seltzer/lemonade/cider

hard water

hard X-rays

a hard negative

hard money

paid in hard cash

hard prices

hard yarns

a hard worsted

in good hard condition

a hard plant

a man of hard unbending will

reached a hard agreement

hard evidence

hard news

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.

gave me a hard look

good hard sense

a hard heart

hard luck

learned a hard lesson

fell on hard times

Sales taxes are hard on the poor.

a hard restriction

He was a hard man, casually cruel.

a hard gang

said some hard things

years of hard living

a machine that's gotten hard use

hard feelings

drives a hard bargain

a hard winter

delivered some hard blows

left the hard thinking to others

praised the team for all of the hard work that led to the victory

one of our hardest workers

He was supposed to be a hard drinker, but he drank little.

the hard political right/left

took a hard left turn

hard forms

hard shadows

hard singing tones

a hard expression

hard problems

was hard to believe

The true story was hard to come by.

a hard concept

hard of seeing

such hard drugs as heroin

hard detergents

hard pesticides such as DDT

a hard scientist

were hard at work

breathing hard

hit the ball hard

The wind was blowing hard.

been drinking hard lately

fell hard for the girl next door

stared hard at me

The economic downturn has hit the poor especially hard.

took the defeat hard

hold on hard

frozen hard

stands hard by the river

clearing land is hard work

a hard exam to pass

a hard man, who never had a kind word for anyone

they were forced to import sheep of a harder stock, one that could thrive in the harsh climate

do you have any hard evidence that this was once the site of a Native American village?

the hard life of a migrant farm worker

a carpet that withstood years of hard wear

a hard disciplinarian who is quick to punish the tiniest violation of the rules

hard candies

fell on the hard floor and bruised her arm

there isn't always a hard line between right and wrong

maintained hard feelings toward those who had cheated him

a woman with a hard will who never budged from her chosen path

that newscast is strictly devoted to hard news, as the producers prefer to leave the gossip to others

we took a much-needed break after working hard all week

a hard-won victory

took the news of their grandfather's death hard

hit the ball hard, causing it to soar out of bounds

the wind blew hard all day

the groom stood hard by, ready to help, as the lady mounted the skittish horse

the dog had been treated hard by his previous owner

hard surfaces / an uncomfortably hard chair

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. / 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.

hard luck / learned a hard lesson / fell on hard times

Sales taxes are hard on the poor. / a hard restriction

said some hard things / years of hard living / a machine that's gotten hard use

left the hard thinking to others / praised the team for all of the hard work that led to the victory

one of our hardest workers / He was supposed to be a hard drinker, but he drank little.

hard problems / was hard to believe / The true story was hard to come by.

hard detergents / hard pesticides such as DDT

breathing hard / hit the ball hard / The wind was blowing hard.

been drinking hard lately / fell hard for the girl next door

Word Forms & Grammar

hard·er

hard·est

hard

hard work

harder

hardest

harder (plural harders)

Origin of Harder

Origin 1: Middle English, from Old English heard; akin to Old High German hart hard, Greek kratos strength

Origin 2: see hard:1

Origin 3: From hard + -er.

Origin 4: From Afrikaans haarder (“mullet”).

First Known Use

before 12th century

Harder Pronunciation

The standard pronunciation of harder is /ˈhärd/, spoken in 1 syllable.

Common Questions About Harder

Is harder an adjective or an adverb?

Harder is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb.

What is another word for harder?

Close synonyms of harder are arduous, Augean and backbreaking. See the full list of harder synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of harder?

The opposite of harder can be expressed with words like cheap, easy, effortless and facile.