hard to eradicate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to eradicate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to eliminate or remove completely, such as a problem, disease, or negative behavior. Example: "The invasive species has proven to be hard to eradicate from the local ecosystem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is stubborn and volatile and hard to eradicate.

The New York Times

While slavery is illegal, it is hard to eradicate.

The New York Times

Once established, the antibiotic-resistant C. difficile can be hard to eradicate.

The New York Times - Science

But a social inclination toward tax evasion, once established, is hard to eradicate.

The New Yorker

And yet, despite the efforts of liberal theologians, old-fashioned Hell has been hard to eradicate.

The New Yorker

But they are also cheap to print and hard to eradicate.

The New York Times

Once the virus boards a ship, it can spread rapidly and become extremely hard to eradicate.

The New York Times

The guinea worm is a spaghetti-thin parasite that has proved notoriously hard to eradicate around the world.

The New York Times - Health

If it is, it's no wonder it's proving so hard to eradicate the stigma of mental health problems.

The Guardian

Mauritania is one of three countries – along with Niger and Mali – where slavery by inheritance is proving hard to eradicate.

The Guardian

"They are now on many, if not most, islands around the world - and once there, have proved extraordinarily hard to eradicate.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to eradicate", consider the specific context to ensure the verb "eradicate" accurately reflects the intensity of removal or elimination you wish to convey. For less severe situations, consider alternatives like "difficult to manage" or "challenging to control".

Common error

While "hard to eradicate" is acceptable in various contexts, avoid using it excessively in informal settings. Opt for simpler phrases like "hard to get rid of" or "difficult to remove" to maintain a natural and relatable tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to eradicate" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, describing something that is difficult to remove or eliminate completely. It combines an adjective ("hard") with an infinitive verb phrase ("to eradicate") to express the degree of difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

47%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to eradicate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe something difficult to eliminate entirely. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it effectively communicates the persistent nature of a challenge. For less formal situations, consider synonyms like "difficult to remove" or "tough to get rid of". The frequency analysis shows it's a "very common" expression, solidifying its place in standard English. Remember to tailor your choice to suit the specific tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to eliminate

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", offering a direct synonym while retaining the core meaning.

tough to get rid of

Uses more informal language ("tough" instead of "hard", "get rid of" instead of "eradicate") while preserving the overall meaning of difficulty in removing something.

challenging to abolish

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "eradicate" with "abolish", suggesting a demanding task of complete removal.

resistant to removal

Focuses on the resistance of something to being removed, highlighting the difficulty from a different angle.

stubborn to eliminate

Emphasizes the persistent nature of what's being eradicated, making the process difficult.

tenacious in its persistence

Shifts the focus to the enduring quality of the object or idea, indirectly emphasizing the difficulty of eradication.

difficult to suppress

Suggests that eradication is hard and uses "suppress" to imply keeping something under control rather than fully eliminating it.

proving impossible to eliminate

Highlights the apparent impossibility of eradication, emphasizing the extreme difficulty.

remains deeply entrenched

Focuses on the deep-rooted nature of the problem, making it challenging to eradicate because it is strongly established.

firmly established and difficult to change

Highlights that something firmly rooted is naturally difficult to eradicate.

FAQs

What does "hard to eradicate" mean?

The phrase "hard to eradicate" means something is difficult to completely remove or eliminate. It suggests a persistent problem or situation that resists efforts to get rid of it.

What can I say instead of "hard to eradicate"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to eliminate", "tough to get rid of", or "challenging to abolish depending on the context.

Is it better to say "difficult to eradicate" or "hard to eradicate"?

Both "hard to eradicate" and "difficult to eradicate" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "Hard" is generally considered more informal than "difficult", but both are widely acceptable.

In what contexts is "hard to eradicate" most appropriate?

"Hard to eradicate" is suitable for discussing persistent issues, diseases, or deeply rooted problems. It's commonly used in news articles, scientific reports, and formal discussions about challenges that are difficult to resolve completely.