tryhard

or try-hard

[ trahy-hahrd ]

noun

1. an underskilled or untalented participant attempting to compensate with sheer effort in order to succeed:

   We annihilated a whole team of tryhards in their first multiplayer match.

2. a person who participates in a game or other activity with too much enthusiasm, emotion, effort, or commitment:

   These tryhards need to take a moment, take a breath, and chill out.

3. someone creating a false image to appear more attractive or appealing; a phony; a poser:

   He’s just a tryhard who thought buying a convertible would help him pick up girls.

verb (used without object)

1. to make an obvious effort to excel, but achieve only moderate success, especially when measured against ambitious goals: The men’s national team tryharded during the qualifiers, but it wasn’t enough to send them to the World Cup.

   New tech companies are tryharding with this next generation of smartphones.

   The men’s national team tryharded during the qualifiers, but it wasn’t enough to send them to the World Cup.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tryhard¹

First recorded in 1980–85; try ( def ) + hard ( def )

Example Sentences

But Deadpool is and always has been a faux-naughty edgelord and tryhard.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, youth turnout proved a deciding factor in both 2020 and 2022, an electoral advantage for Democrats that buoys them ahead of their tryhard Republican opponents.

From Slate

The Band Camino have been around for five years, pumping out popular singles and the terrific EP “tryhard” that feature their propulsive, hook-heavy blend of rock and pop with confessional lyrics and a sly sense of humor.

From Seattle Times

To critics, he came off as a bit of a tryhard, which made him a perfect fit for how most of America sees LA.

From The Guardian

Rowling’s fantasy saga had come to its natural conclusion: Dumbledore was Dumbledead, the Golden Sneech had Golden Snutch, the Sorting Hat had dealt its last tryhard, and most importantly of all, no one had gotten too explicit about their sex lives, however erotically fulfilling or adventurous they might have been.

From Slate