Categories: GeneralSynonyms

HARDLY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for HARDLY?

Need another word that means the same as “hardly”? Find 15 synonyms and 30 related words for “hardly” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Hardly” are: barely, scarce, scarcely, hard, just, only just, not much, faintly, narrowly, slightly, rarely, little, only with difficulty, only with effort, almost not

Hardly as an Adverb

Definitions of "Hardly" as an adverb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “hardly” as an adverb can have the following definitions:

  • Harshly.
  • Scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree.
  • Only a very short time before.
  • Almost not.
  • No or not (suggesting surprise at or disagreement with a statement.
  • Slowly and with difficulty.
  • Only with great difficulty.

Synonyms of "Hardly" as an adverb (15 Words)

almost notSlightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but.
barelyOnly a very short time before.
It was barely 5 a m.
faintlyTo a faint degree or weakly perceived.
She smiled faintly.
hardCausing great damage or hardship.
It was raining hard.
justOnly a very short time before.
That s just what I need.
littleOnly to a small extent; not much or often (used for emphasis.
He had slept little these past weeks.
narrowlyOnly just; by only a small margin.
Narrowly defined tasks.
not muchTo a great degree or extent.
only justWithout any others being included or involved.
only with difficultyAnd nothing more.
only with effortNever except when.
rarelyTo an unusual degree; exceptionally.
We rarely met.
scarceScarcely.
A babe scarce two years old.
scarcelyOnly just; almost not.
She had scarcely dismounted before the door swung open.
slightlyTo a small degree or extent.
The children argued because one slice of cake was slightly larger than the other.

Usage Examples of "Hardly" as an adverb

  • We hardly knew them.
  • I nodded, hardly able to breath.
  • I can hardly hear what she is saying.
  • I hardly think so.
  • He was so dizzy he could hardly stand up straight.
  • He hardly ever goes fishing.
  • A thing hardly bigger than a credit card.
  • The rule worked hardly.
  • She could hardly sit up.
  • The little house in which he lived was hardly bigger than a hut.
  • The party had hardly started when the police arrived.
  • We hardly know each other.

Associations of "Hardly" (30 Words)

anymoreAt the present or from now on; usually used with a negative.
Alice doesn t live here anymore.
barelyIn a sparse or scanty way.
They had barely sat down before forty policemen swarmed in.
coincidentallyHappening at the same time.
The three are coincidentally reunited when captured by the enemy.
curioSomething unusual — perhaps worthy of collecting.
They had such fun over the wonderful box of curios that Jack had sent from India.
deficientInsufficient or inadequate.
This diet is deficient in vitamin B.
frequentlyRegularly or habitually; often.
They go abroad frequently.
infrequentlyNot often; rarely.
A storage area for infrequently used items.
meagerlyDeficient in amount or quality or extent.
These voices are meagerly represented at the conference.
noNot in any degree or manner not at all.
His no was loud and clear.
occasionalEmployed for a particular occasion or on an irregular basis.
Took an occasional glass of wine.
occasionallyNow and then or here and there.
Very occasionally the condition can result in death.
oddityA strange attitude or habit.
She was regarded as a bit of an oddity.
oftenIn many cases or instances.
We often met over a cup of coffee.
rareNot widely distributed.
A rare skill.
rarelyNot often.
The rarely fine Sheraton bookcase.
rarenessNoteworthy scarcity.
rarityA rare thing, especially one having particular value.
The rarity of the condition.
scantBarely amounting to a specified number or quantity.
The press regularly scants a host of issues relating to safety and health.
scanty(of clothing) revealing the body.
Her dress was scanty and revealing.
scarceScarcely.
A babe scarce two years old.
scarcelyOnly a very short time before.
Her voice is so low I can scarcely hear what she is saying.
seldomNot often.
An old seldom used church.
sometimesOccasionally, rather than all of the time.
Sometimes I want to do things on my own.
sparseThinly dispersed or scattered.
Information on earnings is sparse.
sparselyIn a sparse manner.
A sparsely populated region.
specialFor a special service or occasion.
Television s election night specials.
sporadicallyOccasionally or at irregular intervals.
He only works sporadically.
typicallyWith the distinctive qualities of a particular type of person or thing.
Typically she showed no alarm.
uncommonlyExceptionally; very.
He is an uncommonly good talker.
unusualBeing definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird.
The government has taken the unusual step of calling home its ambassador.
Alexei

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