Synonyms of hardly

hardly

adverb

ˈhärd-lē 

1

as in severely

in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering

the new judge vowed to deal hardly with repeat offenders

Synonyms & Similar Words

• severely
• harshly
• oppressively
• hard
• brutally
• roughly
• ill
• sternly
• strongly
• stiffly
• firmly
• aggressively
• grimly
• uncharitably
• ruthlessly
• unfeelingly
• unsparingly
• pitilessly
• mercilessly
• heartlessly
• callously
• abusively
• obdurately
• tyrannically
• insensitively
• savagely
• viciously
• inhumanly
• insensately
• decidedly
• unmercifully
• inhumanely
• resolutely
• brutishly
• toughly
• hard-heartedly
• determinedly
• cold-bloodedly
• assertively
• gruffly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lightly
• mildly
• gently
• softly
• kindly
• leniently
• graciously
• cordially
• tenderly
• lovingly
• benevolently
• considerately
• clemently
• mercifully
• charitably
• sympathetically
• understandingly
• benignantly
• humanely
• tolerantly
• compassionately
• softheartedly

2

as in no

certainly not

I would hardly think someone with her attitude could make a good manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

• no
• never
• none
• scarcely
• nothing
• ill
• nowhere
• by no means
• nothing doing
• on no account
• noway
• nowise
• near

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certainly
• definitely
• surely
• completely
• absolutely
• most
• quite
• very
• positively
• highly
• extremely
• clearly
• exceedingly
• terribly
• really
• greatly
• awfully
• truly
• immensely
• enormously
• mighty
• unquestionably
• perfectly
• plainly
• rather
• utterly
• somewhat
• mostly
• slightly
• hugely
• awful
• doubtless
• assuredly
• mightily
• more or less
• unequivocally
• hands down

3

as in barely

by a very small margin

we were hardly able to make it back to camp before darkness set in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• barely
• slightly
• just
• scarcely
• narrowly
• almost
• somewhat
• marginally
• nearly
• minimally
• by the skin of one's teeth
• minutely
• closely
• partly
• approximately
• roughly
• scantly
• more or less
• plus or minus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• well
• significantly
• substantially
• considerably
• quite
• easily
• definitely
• vastly
• plainly
• positively
• fully
• completely
• unquestionably
• greatly
• abundantly
• generously
• copiously

4

as in sadly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

his broker did not think that he would take his financial losses so hardly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadly
• bitterly
• hard
• sorrowfully
• painfully
• unhappily
• mournfully
• woefully
• regretfully
• sharply
• harshly
• ruefully
• sorely
• grievously
• dolorously
• resentfully
• wailfully
• severely
• wretchedly
• plaintively
• agonizingly
• lugubriously
• dolefully
• inconsolably
• cheerlessly
• miserably
• abjectly
• distressfully
• drearily
• dispiritedly
• distressingly
• dismally
• acutely
• keenly
• despairingly
• dejectedly
• pessimistically
• joylessly
• despondently
• forlornly
• sullenly
• glumly
• disconsolately
• downheartedly
• ill
• dourly
• darkly
• poignantly
• morosely
• somberly
• piercingly
• gloomily
• crestfallenly
• cruelly
• blackly
• low-spiritedly
• mirthlessly
• rancorously
• hurtfully

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happily
• gladly
• blissfully
• joyfully
• joyously
• easily
• cheerfully
• gleefully
• merrily
• delightedly
• lightly
• cheerily
• casually
• lightheartedly
• gaily
• blithely
• calmly
• indifferently
• well
• stoically
• dispassionately
• nonchalantly
• unconcernedly
• favorably
• impassively
• sunnily
• mirthfully
• rejoicingly
• good-naturedly
• blithesomely

5

as in hard

with great effort or determination

the state championship was a hardly fought contest between two evenly matched teams

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hard
• intensely
• intensively
• intently
• diligently
• continuously
• resolutely
• purposefully
• slavishly
• determinedly
• doggedly
• arduously
• laboriously
• strenuously
• assiduously
• actively
• industriously
• seriously
• mightily
• vigorously
• sedulously
• steadily
• thoroughly
• vehemently
• amain
• busily
• energetically
• dynamically
• briskly
• feverishly
• steadfastly
• spiritedly
• animatedly
• unremittingly
• exhaustively
• zealously
• conscientiously
• unrelentingly
• willfully
• ardently
• painstakingly
• meticulously
• attentively
• earnestly
• stubbornly
• unabatedly
• ploddingly
• tirelessly
• indefatigably
• untiringly
• obstinately
• wearilessly
• unflaggingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• casually
• lazily
• wearily
• halfheartedly
• sluggishly
• listlessly
• languidly
• tiredly
• indolently
• desultorily
• lackadaisically
• shiftlessly
• spiritlessly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hardly

The brand held its fall 2024 show in Saint Moritz — one of executive chairman Remo Ruffini’s favorite ski resorts but which can hardly be characterized as intimate. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026

And the rhetoric from Democrats in each chamber could hardly be more different. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

But that’s hardly surprising in a state where the president is about as popular as $6-a-gallon gas and $10-a-pound hamburger. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Plus, Bloys is going to have a far, far bigger job than Holland ever did at Paramount; losing Pluto would hardly represent a significant loss to his portfolio. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026