hardly bear

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly bear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to struggle or have difficulty enduring something. Example: "The heat was so intense that I could hardly bear it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You can hardly bear it.

The New Yorker

I can hardly bear it".

The New Yorker

I can hardly bear to imagine.

Independent

I'm sure they can hardly bear it.

The Washington Post

Personally, I can hardly bear to look.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can hardly bear to watch.

The Guardian - Books

"They could hardly bear to be apart.

The Guardian

I could hardly bear to think about it.

The New York Times

I can hardly bear to leave any animal out".

The New Yorker

I could hardly bear to look at Marian.

The New Yorker

Honestly, I can hardly bear to read it out loud.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly bear" to express a strong sense of difficulty or discomfort in enduring a situation, emotion, or sensation. It implies a struggle to cope.

Common error

While "hardly bear" is widely accepted, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Diversify your vocabulary by using synonyms like "barely tolerate" or "scarcely endure" in formal contexts to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly bear" primarily functions as a verb phrase expressing difficulty or inability to endure something. Ludwig examples show it used to describe emotional states (e.g., "I can "hardly bear" to look at him") or reactions to events (e.g., "You can "hardly bear" to watch"). Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly bear" is a common and correct phrase used to express difficulty in enduring something. Ludwig provides numerous examples from reliable sources showcasing its usage in various contexts, primarily in news and media, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While versatile, it's beneficial to consider synonyms like "barely tolerate" or "scarcely endure", especially in formal writing, to avoid repetition. Be mindful of the intensity of the expression: "hardly bear" suggests difficulty, while "cannot bear" indicates complete intolerance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely tolerate

Emphasizes a minimal level of acceptance or endurance, slightly stronger than "hardly bear".

scarcely endure

Uses "scarcely" to highlight the minimal capacity for endurance, similar to "hardly bear".

barely stand

Focuses on the act of withstanding something with great difficulty, similar in intensity to "hardly bear".

cannot tolerate

Indicates a complete inability to tolerate something, presenting a stronger sense of aversion than "hardly bear".

find it difficult to endure

Rephrases the sentiment using a more descriptive expression of the difficulty in enduring.

struggle to withstand

Highlights the effort involved in resisting or enduring, suggesting a more active struggle.

have trouble enduring

Expresses difficulty in a more general way, indicating problems with enduring.

can't put up with

An informal expression indicating an inability to accept or tolerate something, less formal than "hardly bear".

find it hard to stomach

Uses a more figurative expression implying disgust or aversion.

be at the end of one's tether

Uses a more figurative and emphatic idiom to convey reaching the limit of one's endurance.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly bear" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly bear" to express that something is very difficult to tolerate or endure. For instance, "I can "hardly bear" the thought of losing her" or "He could "hardly bear" to watch the scene unfold".

What's a more formal alternative to "hardly bear"?

While "hardly bear" is acceptable, consider using phrases like "scarcely endure" or "barely tolerate" for a more formal tone. These alternatives convey a similar meaning with increased sophistication.

What's the difference between "hardly bear" and "cannot bear"?

"Hardly bear" implies difficulty in enduring something, whereas "cannot bear" indicates a complete inability to tolerate it. "Cannot bear" expresses a stronger sentiment than "hardly bear".

Can "hardly bear" be used with different tenses?

Yes, "hardly bear" can be used in various tenses. Examples include "I could "hardly bear" it", "He can "hardly bear" to watch", and "She will "hardly bear" to think about it".