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]

Example Sentences

I am not the most financially literate person (I would be hard-pressed to articulate the term “junk bond”).

From The Daily Beast

One would be hard-pressed to find an earlier opponent of the Nazis than Dietrich von Hildebrand.

From The Daily Beast

He says he likes Truffaut's work, but is hard pressed to think of a title.

From The Daily Beast

It was a cutthroat move from investors, hard-pressed to turn a profit on a film that was a domestic disappointment.

From The Daily Beast

But Baghdad would be hard pressed to extend that invitation to Syria.

From The Daily Beast

The Spaniards, hard pressed on all sides, seemed determined to make their last stand in the old citadel.

From Project Gutenberg

But his lips were hard pressed and his eyes became suddenly contemptuous, then smiling.

From Project Gutenberg

Herron's men were hard pressed, but grimly they held to their position, awaiting the arrival of Blunt.

From Project Gutenberg

But the war had reached a critical stage; the Confederate army was hard pressed on every side.

From Project Gutenberg

Hard-pressed brick of a light colour makes an excellent outer wall-surface.

From Project Gutenberg