HARD-PRESSED Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

hard-pressed

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈprest

Definition of hard-pressed

as in perplexed

faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do they will be hard-pressed to come up with any facts that actually support their argument

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hard-pressed Even if the bullpen had been perfect after Rodriguez left, the Angels still would have been hard-pressed to win with the current state of their lineup. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026 The fact that most non-Natives, and many Natives as well, would be hard-pressed to put together a list of Native American foods—that’s colonization in action. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 American consumers are hard-pressed to remember a time when inflation wasn’t on their minds. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 July 2026 Dominant streaming platform Netflix reports earnings after the bell on Thursday, and analysts are sounding hard-pressed to find a meaningful driver for the stock. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed

Adjective

The perplexed inspector has no idea what – or where – that is.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Bettany is by turns hilariously perplexed, in the universal manner of parents engaging with teens everywhere, and achingly tender, in the more unusual way of a robot letting himself be overwhelmed by feeling for the first time.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of perplexed

Adjective

The Tulare County elections office in the Central Valley was suddenly getting peppered with questions from baffled voters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Thanks to the coffered and baffled wood ceilings, noise levels are buffered and kept to a pleasant rumble.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of baffled

Adjective

One unanticipated effect of my public activism efforts is that people now feel embarrassed about using their smartphones in front of me.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
The Bears nearly turned a blowout into a disaster, and the Giants somehow went from getting embarrassed to creating a quarterback controversy.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Browse Nearby Words

hardnoses

hard-pressed

hard put

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“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hard-pressed

adjective

Example Sentences

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