hard-won

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard-won" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that has been achieved or obtained with great effort or struggle. Example: "Her hard-won experience in the field made her an invaluable asset to the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

It was a catharsis hard-won.

The Guardian - Sport

Reward yourself for your hard-won achievements.

Forbes

That is a hard-won truth.

The Economist

She speaks with hard-won authority.

The New York Times

But it would be hard-won strength.

The New York Times

Sometimes the best laughs are hard-won.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The reprieve was hard won.

The New York Times

The lessons were hard won.

The New Yorker

The English was hard won, he said.

The New York Times

It was a valuable lesson, hard won.

The New York Times

It was a victory hard won.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard-won" to emphasize the difficulty and effort involved in achieving a particular outcome. This adds weight and significance to the achievement, highlighting the struggles overcome.

Common error

Avoid using "hard-won" when the achievement was relatively easy or straightforward. The term implies a significant struggle, so using it inappropriately can dilute its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hard-won" is as a pre-modifying adjective. It qualifies a noun, indicating that the noun (e.g., victory, lesson, experience) was achieved through considerable effort and difficulty. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard-won" is an adjective used to describe something achieved through significant effort and difficulty. It's grammatically correct and frequently used, as validated by Ludwig AI. The phrase appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. To maximize impact, use "hard-won" when the effort is genuine and considerable, avoid overusing it for minor achievements. Related phrases such as "achieved through struggle" offer similar emphasis. Overall, the correct and impactful use of "hard-won" enhances writing by highlighting the value and significance of overcoming challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained with great effort

This emphasizes the significant exertion required to achieve the result.

obtained through hardship

This highlights the difficult conditions and suffering endured to achieve the result.

achieved through struggle

This phrase directly highlights the presence of conflict or difficulty in the process of attainment.

earned the hard way

This alternative suggests that a difficult or challenging path was taken to reach the goal.

dearly bought

This alternative implies a high cost or sacrifice was required to obtain something.

painstakingly acquired

This emphasizes the careful and meticulous effort involved.

won by toil

This emphasizes the labor and hard work that led to the achievement.

laboriously attained

This indicates a long and strenuous effort was necessary.

difficult to secure

This emphasizes the challenge in ensuring something is obtained or protected.

scraped together

This suggests resources or achievements were gathered with difficulty from very little available.

FAQs

What does "hard-won" mean?

The phrase "hard-won" describes something that has been achieved or obtained through significant effort, difficulty, and struggle.

How to use "hard-won" in a sentence?

You can use "hard-won" to describe achievements, victories, or lessons learned through considerable effort. For example, "Her hard-won experience made her an invaluable asset."

What can I say instead of "hard-won"?

You can use alternatives like "dearly bought", "achieved through struggle", or "gained with great effort", depending on the context.

Is "hard won" or "hard-won" correct?

"Hard-won" is the correct hyphenated form when used as an adjective before a noun. "Hard won" (without a hyphen) can be used if "hard" is an adverb modifying "won". For example, "He tried hard and won."