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Synonyms

hard-hitting

American  
[hahrd-hit-ing] / ˈhɑrdˈhɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. striking or capable of striking with force.

  2. strikingly or effectively forceful.

    a hard-hitting exposé.
hard-hitting British  

adjective

  1. uncompromising; tough

    a hard-hitting report on urban deprivation
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hard-hitting

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Friday, though, a hard-hitting Welsh defence stopped the hosts from building an insurmountable advantage.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

The Detroit Pistons transformed from one of the NBA’s worst teams to the Eastern Conference leader by adopting a hard-hitting, trash-talking style.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Even if there was, Moody - nicknamed 'Mad Dog' in the Tigers dressing room - has no regrets about the hard-hitting way he played our wonderful game.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

The hard-hitting Mboko arrived in Melbourne on the back of a breakthrough six months, winning her maiden WTA title in Canada in August, beating Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka along the way.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

Before the war he had been an alert, hard-hitting, aggressive marketing executive.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.