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

The only thing that keeps it from ranking worse on the list is that you’d be hard-pressed to find a better backdrop for the socials than the shops of Rodeo Drive.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, Sunak said the UK's approach to meeting its net zero target was imposing "unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families", amid a cost of living crisis exacerbated by higher energy prices.

From BBC

Skimping on the cash for hard-pressed local councils would cause alarm.

From BBC

For some hard-pressed authorities “empty homes work is a luxury,” says housing expert Adam Cliff.

From BBC

I will probably be hard-pressed to find subjects to write my blog about.

From Salon