adverb / adjective
hard
Of unusually strong force or intensity.
She hits the ball hard enough to clear the fence.
Etymology
The inherited adjective includes firmness and strength. Its force sense applies that strength to an action’s intensity rather than to a material’s resistance.
More examples
- He works hard to finish every order on time.
- The restaurant serves wine but no hard liquor.
- Using hard drugs can lead to addiction and serious illness.
Forms
hard · harder · hardest
Similar words
- forcefully
- Describes physical force, not diligence or alcoholic strength.
- intensely
- Emphasizes a high degree of activity, feeling, or concentration.