frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

penetrating, searching, hard-headed, Colloq tough, hard-nosed:
Shareholders should take a hard look at the annual report.
Chapelle drives a hard bargain. 7 sedulous, assiduous, devoted,
conscientious, industrious, indefatigable, untiring, persistent,
dogged, intent, eager, zealous, ardent, energetic, keen, avid:
Galpin is a very hard worker who gets a lot done. 8 cold, bare,
plain, straight, straightforward, blunt, unvarnished,
unquestionable, verifiable, real, indisputable, undeniable,
incontestable, incontrovertible, strict, inescapable,
ineluctable, unavoidable, unalterable, immutable: The hard fact
is that the bill has never been paid. 9 angry, bitter,
acrimonious, hostile, antagonistic, harsh, unpleasant,
unfriendly: I'm afraid there were some hard words between us.
10 spirituous, alcoholic, strong: She won't touch hard liquor.
11 addictive, habit-forming: He later changed from marijuana to
hard drugs. 12 sharp, well-defined, clear, distinct, stark,
definite: Note the hard edges of objects in Realist paintings.
--adv. 13 vigorously, forcefully, forcibly, energetically,
mightily, arduously, laboriously, strenuously, earnestly,
actively, dynamically, eagerly, intensely, ardently, heartily,
zealously, intently, spiritedly, diligently, assiduously,
sedulously, studiously, determinedly, steadfastly,
conscientiously, industriously, devotedly, urgently,
persistently, untiringly, indefatigably, perseveringly,
unfalteringly, relentlessly, doggedly: They always had to work
very hard just to scrape by. He's hard at work writing his new
book. 14 violently, deeply, intensely, badly, distressingly,
painfully, severely, agonizingly: Failing the examination hit
him quite hard. 15 intently, carefully, earnestly: The judge
thought long and hard before passing sentence. 16 harshly,
severely, badly, ill: It's going to go hard with her if she
doesn't change her ways. 17 hard up. poor, indigent,
poverty-stricken, impoverished, penniless, impecunious,
bankrupt, Colloq in the red, broke, bust(ed), on one's uppers,
Slang Brit skint: He's so hard up he can't afford a decent
meal.
harden v. 1 set, solidify, stiffen, freeze: The concrete will harden
overnight. 2 intensify, strengthen, brace, fortify, toughen,
reinforce, stiffen: The opposition have hardened their stand
against privatization.