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hardscrabble

[ hahrd-skrab-uhl ]

adjective

  1. providing or yielding meagerly in return for much effort; demanding or unrewarding:

    the hardscrabble existence of mountainside farmers.



hardscrabble

/ ˈhɑːdˌskræbəl /

noun

  1. modifier (of a place) difficult to make a living in; barren
  2. great effort made in the face of difficulties


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Word History and Origins

Origin of hardscrabble1

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; hard + scrabble

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Example Sentences

Their harrowing escape to Erbil has ended in a precarious and hardscrabble existence.

But this hardscrabble, prairie town, with its population of 5,000 people, cast its charm on Ballantine.

For many fans, her hardscrabble youth and rough-and-tumble style were viewed as endearing strengths.

At Big Valley, a co-ed pre-K-12 in hardscrabble Modesto, Calif., the trip to Washington D.C. has been an annual rite of passage.

In his hardscrabble campaign, there might not even have been a podium ready to welcome him.

They moved into a large house which had been a tavern in the days when lumber had been cut around Hardscrabble.

Mr. Anthony had the name Hardscrabble changed to Center Falls, and was made postmaster.

In March, 1839, the family moved to Hardscrabble, a small village two miles further down the Battenkill.

Its cost was to be seventy thousand dollars, which was an enormous sum in those hardscrabble days.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronayne and the Doctor rode out soon after dinner, sir, in the direction of Hardscrabble.

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hard sciencehard sell