How to Pronounce Hard-pressed

To pronounce "hard-pressed", say HARDPR-ess-ed — 3 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hard-pressed

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

12

Letters

HARDPR-ess-ed

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💡 Tip for remembering “hard-pressed”

"hard-pressed" has 3 syllables: hardpr-ess-ed.

What does hard-pressed mean?

adjective

  1. (usually with to-infinitive) Barely able. Having difficulty doing something.

    “Although they are still available, I think we would be hard-pressed to find one on short notice.”

  2. Experiencing financial difficulty or difficulty in surviving.

    “The earthquake left the residents hard-pressed.”

Synonyms

hard pushedhard putdire straits

Hear “hard-pressed” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

troubleddistresseddifficultevilstrugglingpoorlybad

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hard-pressed"?▾

"Hard-pressed" has 3 syllables: hardpr · ess · ed.

What does "hard-pressed" mean?▾

Hard-pressed: (usually with to-infinitive) Barely able. Having difficulty doing something.

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