hard to satisfy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to satisfy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has high expectations or is difficult to please in various contexts, such as customer service or personal relationships. Example: "The client was hard to satisfy, often requesting multiple revisions before approving the final design."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But she could be hard to satisfy.

The New York Times

Yet the famously capricious Mrs. Helmsley was hard to satisfy.

The New York Times

Monotone properties are hard to satisfy in many situations.

Automatica

A reader's appetite for the lives of beloved poets can be hard to satisfy.

The New York Times - Books

Without a radical technological shift the new demand will be hard to satisfy.

The Economist

Obviously, it is hard to satisfy the FRs of a design when it behaves stochastically.

Procedia CIRP

This makes the approach more amenable to VLSI design, where such constraints are hard to satisfy.

Microelectronics Journal

Political reformers – always hard to satisfy – will doubtless turn their noses up at both plans.

The Guardian - Opinion

She finds all of this painful, having worked hard to satisfy every individual.

The New York Times - Arts

You do not go into somebody's house and start rearranging their furniture.Perhaps foreigners are, by their nature, hard to satisfy.

The Economist

Thai farmers seem just as hard to satisfy as their counterparts around the world; they are already demanding more help.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, use "hard to satisfy" to describe constraints or requirements that are difficult to meet due to specific limitations or complexities.

Common error

While the phrase "hard to satisfy" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like "picky" or "demanding" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to satisfy" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of being difficult to please or fulfill. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to satisfy" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something or someone that is difficult to please or whose requirements are challenging to meet. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and used in various contexts, including news, science, and business. While versatile, it's essential to consider the tone and formality of your writing, as simpler alternatives might be more suitable in casual settings. Remember to use "hard to satisfy" to express genuine difficulty rather than casual dissatisfaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to please

This alternative directly replaces "hard to satisfy" with a synonym that has almost identical meaning.

not easily pleased

A straightforward alternative focusing on the lack of ease in bringing someone satisfaction.

tough to appease

This phrase emphasizes the difficulty in pacifying or calming someone who is never content.

challenging to gratify

This option highlights the struggle to fulfill or make someone's desires come true.

difficult to make happy

Focuses on the emotional aspect, indicating the difficulty in bringing joy or contentment.

demanding to fulfill

Focuses on the high expectations or requirements that make it difficult to meet the desired outcome.

never content

Highlights the perpetual state of dissatisfaction, making them "hard to satisfy".

exacting to meet

Emphasizes the stringent standards that are hard to achieve.

requires a lot to satisfy

Shifts the focus to the quantity of effort or resources needed to achieve satisfaction.

insatiable

Describes someone whose desires are impossible to quench, thus "hard to satisfy".

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "hard to satisfy"?

When something is described as "hard to satisfy", it means that it is difficult to meet the required expectations or needs. This could be due to high standards, complex requirements, or other limiting factors.

Are there alternative phrases I can use instead of "hard to satisfy"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "difficult to please", "challenging to gratify", or "demanding to fulfill", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "hard to satisfy" or "difficult to satisfy"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Difficult to satisfy" is a slightly more formal alternative, while "hard to satisfy" is more common in everyday conversation. The choice depends on the context and desired tone.

Can "hard to satisfy" be used to describe both people and things?

Yes, "hard to satisfy" can describe both people (e.g., "He's a client who is hard to satisfy") and things (e.g., "These requirements are hard to satisfy").