HARDNESS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

hardness

noun

ˈhärd-nəs

Definition of hardness

as in hardship

something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal the test questions were rated for hardness, a rating of five indicating the most difficult

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in severity

the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) the aunt's hardness gradually crumbled under the influence of the little orphan's endearing ways

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hardness On the Mohs scale of hardness, which runs from 1 to 10, andesite is a 7, similar to quartz and more resistant than a steel nail. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 July 2026 It's recommended to clean your dishwasher filter every 3-6 months, depending on your usage frequency and water hardness. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 July 2026 For over 20 years, this question has ranked among the biggest open problems in the field of quantum complexity theory, which studies the intrinsic hardness of quantum problems. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2026 The new method led to a classification system that ranks a meteoroid's hardness. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hardness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardness

Noun

Ask yourself if waiting would cause a practical problem (like not having transportation) or additional financial hardship (like high-interest credit card debt).

— Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Other exemptions are offered to students who are 21 or older, have a medical condition or disability that cannot be accommodated on campus, married or are a parent, face financial hardship, or are active-duty members of the armed forces or veterans.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hardship

Noun

Tyreke Smith had a good month, but the severity of his hamstring injury could make Harris’ path cleaner.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.

— Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of severity

Noun

However, there were signs of the difficulties clubs faced in concluding their business by 7pm.

— Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
More concerning memory problems may involve difficulty retaining new information in the first place, like repeatedly asking a question without remembering the answer.

— Danielle Zickl, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficulty

Browse Nearby Words

hardly

hardness

hardnose

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardness. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hardness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hardness

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes