hard to overcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to overcome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe challenges or obstacles that are difficult to surmount or deal with. Example: "The financial difficulties proved to be hard to overcome for the small business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hard to overcome.

The New York Times - Sports

It's hard to overcome".

The New York Times

Still, first impressions are hard to overcome.

The New Yorker

First impressions are hard to overcome.

The New York Times

Certainly division seems hard to overcome.

The New York Times

But longstanding suspicions are hard to overcome.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was hard to overcome that.

The New York Times - Science

However, habits in general are hard to overcome.

Cornell University

That is a margin that will be hard to overcome.

The New York Times

But it's very hard to overcome those performance numbers.

The New York Times

Inequality in developing countries is particularly hard to overcome.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to overcome" when you want to emphasize the difficulty involved in surpassing a challenge or obstacle. Be mindful of the context to ensure the phrase aligns with the intended level of formality.

Common error

While "hard to overcome" is versatile, avoid overusing it in extremely informal settings where simpler alternatives like "tough" or "tricky" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hard to overcome" is to act as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, describing the degree of difficulty associated with surpassing or resolving it. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is both grammatically sound and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Unknown

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to overcome" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe challenges that require significant effort to resolve. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It finds application across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and general discourse. While versatile, consider the context to ensure appropriate formality. Alternatives like "tough to surmount" or "challenging to get past" may be suitable in some instances. As Ludwig examples show, "hard to overcome" effectively communicates the difficulty of dealing with various obstacles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough to surmount

Replaces 'overcome' with 'surmount', suggesting a high barrier.

difficult to conquer

Uses 'conquer' to emphasize the effort needed to overcome the challenge.

challenging to get past

Focuses on the difficulty of moving beyond a specific obstacle.

formidable to defeat

Highlights the strength of the opposing force or challenge.

onerous to resolve

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of solving a problem.

demanding to manage

Focuses on the effort required to handle a difficult situation.

insurmountable at first glance

Suggests a challenge that seems impossible initially.

not easily rectified

Implies that the problem is difficult to correct or fix.

presents a major hurdle

Highlights the obstacle as a significant impediment.

poses a significant obstacle

Identifies the challenge as a notable barrier to progress.

FAQs

What does "hard to overcome" mean?

The phrase "hard to overcome" means that something presents a significant challenge that requires substantial effort to surpass or resolve. It indicates that the obstacle is not easily dealt with.

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

You can use alternatives like "tough to surmount", "difficult to conquer", or "challenging to get past" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "hardly to overcome"?

No, "hardly to overcome" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "hard to overcome". "Hardly" has a different meaning, indicating 'barely' or 'scarcely', which doesn't fit the intended meaning of the phrase.

How to use "hard to overcome" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to overcome" in a sentence like this: "The financial difficulties proved to be "hard to overcome" for the small business."