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
Russia cannot threaten the EU as a whole, yet there are fears that without America, the West would be hard-pressed to defend vulnerable nations like Estonia or Latvia, which the Kremlin still views as part of its historical domain.
—
Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
If Trump does make an exception, analysts say that would be a big win for India, though others are hard-pressed to see this happen.
—Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
The state high court will be hard-pressed to reject the effort, as in 1981, the same court, with a Democratic majority then as now, declared a House district unconstitutionally noncompact in Schrage v. State Board of Elections.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
More news: Former Red Sox Prospect Signs With Dodgers: Report
Rosario joins a long list of non-roster invitees that will be hard-pressed to crack the Dodgers' roster without an injury at the major league level.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
If Trump does make an exception, analysts say that would be a big win for India, though others are hard-pressed to see this happen.
—Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
The state high court will be hard-pressed to reject the effort, as in 1981, the same court, with a Democratic majority then as now, declared a House district unconstitutionally noncompact in Schrage v. State Board of Elections.
—Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
More news: Former Red Sox Prospect Signs With Dodgers: Report
Rosario joins a long list of non-roster invitees that will be hard-pressed to crack the Dodgers' roster without an injury at the major league level.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-pressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-pressed
Adjective
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Ellie seemed perplexed when she was told by police that her father was missing.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
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This was followed by a photo of Bronze, who was also wearing Crocs, holding another fish on the end of a line and looking a little perplexed.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Chasing perfection this offseason required Webb to tweak the pitch that, ironically, most baffled hitters.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne Elliott’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
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In the now-viral video, the tuxedo cat crawls out from under the bed, wide-eyed and bewildered.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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First thing's first: Sweating is a completely normal bodily function and not something to be embarrassed about, health experts say.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
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Are those people embarrassed not to have read Lispector?—
New York Times,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-pressed. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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