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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Recent Examples of hard-pressed
But both are going to be hard-pressed to deliver on those expectations this March.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Kuemper, who was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, will be hard-pressed to finish with a similar caliber campaign this time around.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Damat Anyone visiting Turkey would be hard-pressed not to get exposed to Damat.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
An adult earning barely $30,000 a year behind a fast-food counter will be hard-pressed to support a family, Holder said.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Kuemper, who was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, will be hard-pressed to finish with a similar caliber campaign this time around.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Damat Anyone visiting Turkey would be hard-pressed not to get exposed to Damat.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
An adult earning barely $30,000 a year behind a fast-food counter will be hard-pressed to support a family, Holder said.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
-
Some observers are perplexed as to why a serious adult drama is attracting the level of fan scrutiny usually reserved for genre material.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Travelers who happen by the small town of Ida Grove, Iowa, about 100 miles north of Omaha, might be intrigued (and a little perplexed) by the castle-like structures that sprang from the vision of Byron Godbersen, founder of Midwest Industries.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Scientist can’t be blamed for not recognizing the fleshy glob, because Relicanthus daphneae baffled experts for decades, the American Museum of Natural History reports.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garcia says, acting out the usual blush of so many bewildered men.—
Darío Gael Blanco,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mother looked bewildered and even Father looked up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Howard provides the cops with a box of Nancy’s belongings, which an embarrassed Mary admits to stealing, with it later being revealed that Mary and Howard used to role-play as Nancy and her husband Robert (Joel Kinnaman).—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The band felt embarrassed wearing those lame outfits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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