hard-pressed

Or hard·pressed

[hahrd-prest]

adjective

1. heavily burdened or oppressed, as by overwork or financial difficulties; harried; put-upon.

   Synonyms: beleaguered

hard-pressed

adjective

1. in difficulties

   the swimmer was hard-pressed

2. subject to severe competition

3. subject to severe attack

4. closely pursued

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard pressed¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Idioms and Phrases

Overburdened, put upon, as in With all these bills to pay we find ourselves hard pressed. [c. 1800]