Hard means firm or solid, or difficult to do, understand, or deal with. As an adverb, it can mean with a lot of effort or force.
From Old English “heard,” meaning firm, severe, or brave. The idea of physical firmness extended to difficulty and toughness in situations.
It’s interesting that the opposite of both soft objects and easy tasks is the same word. We even say “hard facts” for information that’s solid and can’t be easily bent or argued away.
In many languages, terms related to 'hard' or 'tough' have been associated with stereotypically masculine traits, while softness has been feminized. This has contributed to gendered expectations around emotional expression and physical resilience.
Avoid using 'hard' or 'tough' as a proxy for masculinity or as a standard of worth (e.g., 'man up'). Describe the specific quality you mean (resilient, persistent, durable) without tying it to gender.
["difficult","challenging","resilient","durable","sturdy"]
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