I. adjective
1.
Synonyms: firm 2, solid
Related Word: compacted, compressed, concentrated, consolidated, packed; callous, hardened, indurate, indurated, set; adamantine, flinty, granitic, iron, ironhard
Contrasted words: fluid, liquid; flabby, limp; ductile, malleable, plastic, pliable, pliant; elastic, flexible, limber, resilient, supple
Antonyms: soft
2.
Synonyms: spirituous , alcoholic, ardent, strong
Antonyms: soft
3.
Synonyms: realistic , down-to-earth, hard-boiled, hardheaded, matter-of-fact, practical, pragmatic, sober, unfantastic, unidealistic
4.
Synonyms: insensible 5, anesthetic, bloodless, dull, impassible, insensate, insensitive, rocky
5.
Synonyms: intensive , blood-and-guts, deep, intense, profound
6.
demanding great toil and effort
a hard but rewarding task
Synonyms: arduous, difficile, difficult, effortful, formidable, heavy, knotty, labored, laborious, operose, rough, rugged, serious, severe, slavish, sticky, strenuous, terrible, toilful, toilsome, tough, uphill
Related Word: burdensome, exacting, onerous; complex, complicated, intricate, involved, scabrous; backbreaking, distressing, exhausting, fatiguing, grinding, tiring, wearing, wearisome, wearying; bothersome, demanding, irksome, rocky, straining, troublesome, trying; merciless, unsparing
Contrasted words: effortless, facile, light, simple, smooth
Antonyms: easy
7.
Synonyms: actual 2, absolute, factual, genuine, positive, sure-enough
8.
Synonyms: grim 2, austere, bleak, dour, harsh, severe, stringent
9.
Synonyms: severe 3, bitter, brutal, harsh, inclement, intemperate, rigorous, rugged
II. adverb
1.
with great or utmost force
hit the nail hard
Synonyms: energetically, forcefully, forcibly, hardly, might and main, mightily, powerfully, strongly, vigorously
Related Word: actively, animatedly, briskly, snappily, spiritedly, sprightly, vivaciously; earnestly, intensely, keenly, seriously, urgently, wholeheartedly
Idioms: with all one's might
Contrasted words: faintly, feebly, nervelessly, softly, strengthlessly, unenergetically, weakly
Antonyms: easily, easy
2.
in a violent manner
the wind blew hard all the next day
Synonyms: fiercely, frantically, frenziedly, furiously, hardly, madly, stormily, tumultuously, turbulently, violently, wildly
Related Word: boisterously, exuberantly, rowdily, uproariously; angrily, brutally, ferociously, savagely, viciously
Idioms: like a house afire, like fury, like mad
Contrasted words: gently, mildly, softly
3.
with intentness and determination
made up her mind to study hard
Synonyms: assiduously, dingdong, earnestly, exhaustively, intensely, intensively, painstakingly, thoroughly, unremittingly
Related Word: conscientiously, meticulously, punctiliously
Contrasted words: carelessly, casually, desultorily, fitfully, haphazardly
4.
in a fixed and intensive manner
stared hard at the offender
Synonyms: closely, intently, searchingly, sharply
Contrasted words: casually, cursorily, idly, offhand
5.
in such manner as to cause hardship, difficulty, or defeat
things will go hard with him if he doesn't reform
Synonyms: badly, hardly, harshly, painfully, rigorously, roughly, severely; compare amiss 2
Related Word: cruelly; relentlessly; meanly, shabbily, unfairly
Contrasted words: comfortably, pleasantly, smoothly; acceptably, satisfactorily, satisfyingly
Antonyms: easily, easy
6.
with great or excessive resentment or grief
don't take your setback so hard
Synonyms: bitterly, hardly, keenly, rancorously, resentfully, sorely
Contrasted words: casually, lightly, nonchalantly, offhandedly
7.
in a firm manner
hold on hard
Synonyms: fast, firm, firmly, fixedly, solidly, steadfastly, tight, tightly
Contrasted words: easily, easy, loose, loosely, slackly
8.
with difficulty
breathing hard after the climb
Synonyms: arduously, burdensomely, difficultly, hardly, laboriously, onerously, toilsomely
Related Word: exhaustingly, gruelingly, painfully, tiredly; awkwardly, cumbersomely, cumbrously, inconveniently, ponderously, unhandily, unwieldily
Contrasted words: effortlessly, evenly, handily, readily, smoothly
Antonyms: easily, easy
9.
to the point of hardness
the pond is frozen hard
Synonyms: firmly, hardly, solid, solidly
10.
Synonyms: close , at close hand, near, nearby, nigh