hardship

noun

hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship How to pronounce hardship (audio)
1
2
: something that causes or entails suffering or privation

Examples of hardship in a Sentence

He had suffered through considerable hardship. The city has been experiencing a period of financial hardship. They had to endure the hardships of life on the frontier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Musk’s cuts have not spared the platform from deep financial hardship. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024 But both parents suffered from blindness, and his family faced much economic hardship growing up. Ignacio Ornelas, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024 There are many types of fire that represent hardships. Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024 This massive amount of spending is puzzling, given the media is filled with stories about the economic hardships many families face. Jay L. Zagorsky / The Conversation, Quartz, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hardship 

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardship was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hardship

Cite this Entry

“Hardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardship. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hardship

noun
hard·​ship ˈhärd-ˌship How to pronounce hardship (audio)
1
2
: something that causes pain or loss

More from Merriam-Webster on hardship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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