hard put

adjective

In a situation that is difficult to resolve.

“hard put to it: in great perplexity or difficulty; at a loss.”

Similar
distressedhard-pressedin a bad waytroubled
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Meanings

adjectivehard put (comparative harder put, superlative hardest put)

comparative harder put · superlative hardest put

  1. In a situation that is difficult to resolve.

    hard put to it: in great perplexity or difficulty; at a loss.

    1 more example

    I know what that word means, but would be hard put to define it.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivefacing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

Similar
distressedhard-pressedin a bad waytroubled
Also see
distressedhard-pressedin a bad way

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

hard put. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hard%20put

MLA

“hard put.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hard%20put. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hard put,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hard%20put.

Source: hard put on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.