physical hardship

USAGE SUMMARY

"physical hardship" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any kind of difficult physical situation that someone endures. For example, "The soldiers endured physical hardship during the war."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health

Survival

Historical accounts

Personal experiences

Fiction

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

A person may be physically strong, resistant to infection, able to cope with physical hardship and other features of his physical environment, and still be considered unhealthy if his mental state, as measured by his behaviour, is deemed unsound.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Physical hardship and moral despair overwhelmed the society.

Encyclopedia Britannica

T. Coraghessan Boyle has a thing about survivalism and physical hardship.

The New York Times - Books

Emotional and physical hardship reduced their numbers, but 20 made it to Senegal.

The New York Times - Arts

On his education Eton: "An early introduction to human cruelty, treachery and extreme physical hardship".

The Guardian

"It was about making light of physical hardship and keeping going until the job was done".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Perhaps what happened to him internally was even more attritional than his physical hardships".

The Guardian

A career beset by physical hardships and pockmarked by bizarre incidents has left him unfazed.

The New York Times - Sports

Players leave caches and others find them, often hiking for hours and enduring physical hardships to do so.

The New York Times - Tech

Huston not only presents the physical hardships of battle; he creates the war as a cultural and moral catastrophe.

The New Yorker

He seemed like the kind of artist whose immersive romantic and physical hardships had replaced the pick'n'mix wizardry of his 90s and 00s output for good.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing prolonged or intense difficulty, use "physical hardship" to effectively convey the severity and impact on those experiencing it. For instance, "The pioneers faced immense physical hardship during their journey west."

Common error

Avoid using "physical hardship" to describe mild discomfort or temporary inconvenience. Reserve the term for situations involving genuine suffering and endurance, not everyday annoyances. For example, using it to describe a short walk would be an overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "physical hardship" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing conditions endured by individuals or groups. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "physical hardship" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term to describe situations involving significant physical difficulties and suffering. Ludwig's analysis, based on numerous examples from diverse sources, confirms its validity. As a noun phrase, it effectively communicates the severity of challenging conditions, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When writing, reserve it for situations with real suffering, and consider alternatives like ""bodily suffering"" or ""physical distress"" for nuanced meanings. It's a term best suited for neutral to formal registers, avoiding overuse in trivial contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bodily suffering

Focuses more directly on the experience of suffering within the body, rather than the challenging circumstances that cause it.

physical distress

Emphasizes the state of being troubled or strained physically, implying a potentially acute or immediate experience.

bodily adversity

Highlights the challenging or unfavorable conditions imposed on the body.

physical privation

Specifically denotes the lack of basic necessities for physical well-being.

onerous physical conditions

Shifts the focus to the demanding and burdensome nature of the physical circumstances.

strenuous physical demands

Emphasizes the high level of effort or energy required by physical activities or circumstances.

challenging physical circumstances

Broadly refers to difficult or testing situations related to physical well-being or activities.

adverse physical conditions

Highlights the negative or harmful nature of the physical environment or situation.

difficult physical circumstances

A general term for situations involving physical challenges or obstacles.

debilitating physical conditions

Focuses on conditions that weaken or impair physical strength and health.

FAQs

How can I use "physical hardship" in a sentence?

You can use "physical hardship" to describe situations where someone experiences significant physical difficulties or suffering. For example, "The refugees endured immense physical hardship during their journey to safety."

What are some alternatives to "physical hardship"?

Some alternatives to "physical hardship" include "bodily suffering", "physical distress", or "bodily adversity" depending on the specific context.

Is "physical hardship" a formal or informal term?

"Physical hardship" is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "physical hardship" and "physical difficulty"?

"Physical hardship" implies a more severe and prolonged experience of suffering or difficulty, while "physical difficulty" can refer to a broader range of challenges, including temporary or less intense situations.