hard-hitting

[ hahrd-hit-ing ]

adjective

1. striking or capable of striking with force.
2. strikingly or effectively forceful:

   a hard-hitting exposé.

hard-hitting

adjective

1. uncompromising; tough

   a hard-hitting report on urban deprivation

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard-hitting¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Can music be both milquetoast and hard-hitting at the same time?

From The Daily Beast

Are you going to mix it up with celebrities, or include mostly hard-hitting subjects?

From The Daily Beast

The taste is intense, with hard-hitting wormwood flavor and lemony undertones.

From The Daily Beast

Ann Romney did much better, with her hard-hitting theme: Mitt Romney does not fail at what he undertakes.

From The Daily Beast

The result is a hard-hitting drama that deals with the unknowable impulses of the universe and of the human heart itself.

From The Daily Beast

He had latterly taken a fancy to wild-fowl shooting by the coast, for which a very hard-hitting, long-range gun was needed.

From Project Gutenberg

The plain profile of this man reminds one of the hard-hitting, rough-riding Roundhead.

From Project Gutenberg

For all purposes except the actual hard-hitting they are the most useful weapon which the commander of the fleet possesses.

From Project Gutenberg

Ken went out deeper, for he knew most hard-hitting left-handers hit to right field.

From Project Gutenberg

That brought it to the last one, who chanced to be the hard-hitting catcher, Ballinger.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compelling
• pithy