excessive hardship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive hardship" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that imposes an unreasonable or extreme level of difficulty or suffering on someone. Example: "The new policy has caused excessive hardship for many families struggling to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If the abatement of a nuisance by injunction would impose an excessive hardship on the community (the closing of factories that would deprive community workers of their livelihood), the usual practice of the courts is to deny an injunction and award money damages for the injury suffered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fasting is not meant to create excessive hardship on the Muslim individual according to religious tenets.

Diabetes Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Both Bradman and Paul support increased regulation yet remain wary of placing excessive hardships on cash-strapped centers.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Freed from financial hardship, excessive work and the constant fear of job and housing insecurity, the individual can prosper and fulfil her or his potential.

The Guardian - Opinion

Wells Fargo and Discover, for instance, recently started providing reduced interest rates or lower monthly payments to borrowers with a financial hardship or "excessive student loan burden".

Huffington Post

Studies have shown that waiting periods for abortions do not change women's decisions to go through with the procedure, and they cause "excessive" emotional and financial hardships.

Huffington Post

The whole thing is indulgent and excessive when compared to the hardship befalling much of the world.

TechCrunch

The severity was excessive.

BBC

The Portuguese generally lacked a proper understanding of traditional Sinhalese social and economic structure, and excessive demands put upon it led to hardship and popular hostility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But immigrant and human rights advocates have warned for years that behind the veil of diplomatic immunity, some envoys have subjected their workers to hardships that range from underpayment and excessive hours to physical and psychological injury, creating conditions that can amount to indentured servitude or even slavery.

The New York Times

This creates a hardship for both the borrower and the lender regarding the excessive transaction costs.

Financial Innovation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a policy or event, use "excessive hardship" to emphasize the unreasonable or disproportionate difficulties it creates for individuals or communities.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive hardship" when describing minor inconveniences. This phrase should be reserved for situations involving genuinely significant difficulty and suffering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive hardship" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive hardship" is a noun phrase denoting an unreasonable or unfair level of difficulty and suffering. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and usable in English writing. While not extremely common, it appears in diverse contexts such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using it, ensure that the situation genuinely warrants such a strong term. Consider alternatives like "undue hardship" or "severe adversity" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue hardship

Replaces "excessive" with "undue", suggesting the hardship is unwarranted or disproportionate.

severe adversity

Emphasizes the severity of the difficult situation.

extreme suffering

Focuses on the suffering aspect of the hardship, highlighting its intensity.

intense privation

Highlights the deprivation and lack of necessities caused by the hardship.

crushing burden

Implies the hardship is heavy and overwhelming.

debilitating struggle

Focuses on the weakening effect of the prolonged hardship.

overwhelming difficulty

Highlights the magnitude of the challenge.

extreme difficulty

Focuses on the extreme nature of the difficulty, rather than hardship in particular.

profound suffering

Highlights the depth and intensity of the suffering experienced.

unreasonable burden

Suggests the burden is unfair or unjustified.

FAQs

How can I use "excessive hardship" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive hardship" to describe situations where difficulties are unreasonably high. For example, "The new regulations caused "excessive hardship" for small businesses".

What's a more formal alternative to "excessive hardship"?

A more formal alternative could be "undue hardship" or "severe adversity", depending on the specific context.

Is "excessive hardship" the same as "financial difficulty"?

While financial difficulties can contribute to "excessive hardship", the latter encompasses a broader range of difficulties, including emotional, physical, and social challenges.

When is it appropriate to use "excessive hardship" instead of "difficulty"?

Use "excessive hardship" when you want to emphasize that the difficulty is beyond what is reasonable or acceptable. It suggests a significant and unfair burden.