hard-hit

American  

adjective

1. adversely affected; struck by disaster.

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hard-hit British  

adjective

1. seriously affected or hurt

   hard-hit by taxation

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Etymology

Origin of hard-hit

First recorded in 1825–30; hard ( def. ) + hit ( def. )

Example Sentences

Although some beaten-down software stocks have staged a strong recovery, many other hard-hit industry groups have continued to struggle.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

While many emerging markets have been hard-hit by the oil shock—and could keep getting battered if the Strait isn’t reopened—don’t count them out.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

It was particularly hard-hit on 9/11, with the surrounding Nassau County losing around 350 people, including many first responders.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

San Francisco’s business centers were particularly hard-hit by the pandemic as its technology companies quickly adapted to remote work and kept at it even as the crisis eased, triggering widespread office and retail vacancies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

It was clear that he was hard-hit, and just as clear that he meant going through to the finish.

From The Gentleman A Romance of the Sea by Ollivant, Alfred