Ask Difference

Heavy vs. Hard — What's the Difference?

By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
Heavy refers to an object or substance with significant weight or mass, while hard describes something that is firm, solid, or difficult to break or penetrate.
Heavy vs. Hard — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Heavy and Hard

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Key Differences

Heavy is used to describe objects that weigh a lot or create a sensation of burden, like a heavy suitcase or dense material. On the other hand, hard refers to the physical property of resistance, such as a hard surface that’s tough to dent, or a hard problem that's difficult to solve.
Heavy is often associated with mass and gravity, as in "heavy machinery" or "heavy rainfall." Hard can relate to firmness or toughness, like "hardwood" or "hard-to-reach goals."
Heavy usually implies physical weight, making objects challenging to lift or move. Hard is more about structural integrity or difficulty, like a "hard shell" that resists pressure.
Heavy can also describe emotional weight, such as "heavy-hearted," whereas hard can imply challenging circumstances, as in "a hard time."

Comparison Chart

Primary Meaning

Significant weight or density
Firmness, difficulty, resistance
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Physical Example

"Heavy bag" that's difficult to lift
"Hard surface" that's tough to crack

Figurative Use

"Heavy workload" implies burdensome
"Hard test" suggests challenging

Usage Context

Objects with weight
Surfaces or situations with firmness

Emotional Context

Weighty emotions (e.g., "heavy heart")
Difficult experiences ("hard times")

Compare with Definitions

Heavy

Burdensome workload.
The project placed a heavy load on the team.

Hard

Difficult challenge.
The math exam was incredibly hard.

Heavy

Intense precipitation.
Heavy rain flooded the streets.

Hard

Toughened or resistant.
Diamonds are extremely hard gemstones.

Heavy

High weight.
The box was too heavy for her to lift.

Hard

Severe conditions.
She had a hard upbringing due to poverty.

Heavy

Dense material.
Lead is heavier than most metals.

Hard

Solid objects.
The ice was too hard to skate on safely.

Heavy

Emotional gravity.
He felt a heavy sadness after the news.

Hard

Firm to the touch.
The wood is so hard that it can't be scratched.

Heavy

Of great weight; difficult to lift or move
A heavy and bulky load
The pan was too heavy for me to carry

Hard

Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
The slate broke on the hard floor
Rub the varnish down when it's hard

Heavy

Of great density; thick or substantial
Heavy horn-rimmed glasses
Heavy grey clouds

Hard

Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack

Heavy

Of more than the usual size, amount, or intensity
A heavy cold
I fell into a heavy sleep
The traffic was heavy and I was delayed

Hard

Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort
Airship-flying was pretty hard work
She found it hard to believe that he could be involved
It's hard for drummers these days

Heavy

Striking or falling with force
A heavy blow to the head
We had heavy overnight rain

Hard

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

Heavy

Needing much physical effort
Heavy work like repairing pathways

Hard

Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.

Heavy

Very important or serious
A heavy discussion

Hard

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult
Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

Heavy

A thing, such as a vehicle, that is large or heavy of its kind.

Hard

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.

Heavy

Strong beer, especially bitter
A pint of heavy

Hard

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

Heavy

Heavily
Heavy-laden

Hard

With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school

Heavy

Having relatively great weight
A heavy load.

Hard

So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard

Heavy

Having relatively high density; having a high specific gravity.

Hard

To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard

Heavy

Large, as in number or quantity
A heavy turnout.
Heavy casualties.

Hard

A road leading down across a foreshore.

Heavy

Large in yield or output
Heavy rainfall.

Hard

Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.

Heavy

Of great intensity
Heavy activity.
Heavy fighting.

Hard

Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.

Heavy

Having great power or force
A heavy punch.

Hard

Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.

Heavy

Violent; rough
Heavy seas.

Hard

Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.

Heavy

Equipped with massive armaments and weapons
A heavy cruiser.
Heavy infantry.

Hard

Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.

Heavy

Large enough to fire powerful shells
Heavy guns.

Hard

Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.

Heavy

Indulging to a great degree
A heavy drinker.

Hard

Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.

Heavy

Involved or participating on a large scale
A heavy investor.

Hard

Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.

Heavy

Of great import or seriousness; grave
Heavy matters of state.

Hard

Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.

Heavy

Having considerable thickness
A heavy coat.

Hard

Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.

Heavy

Broad or coarse
Drew the face with heavy lines.

Hard

Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.

Heavy

Dense; thick
A heavy fog.

Hard

Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.

Heavy

Slow to dissipate; strong
"There was a heavy fragrance of flowers and lemon trees" (Mario Puzo).

Hard

Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.

Heavy

Too dense or rich to digest easily
A heavy dessert.

Hard

Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.

Heavy

Insufficiently leavened
Heavy bread.

Hard

Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.

Heavy

Full of clay and readily saturated
Heavy soil.

Hard

Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.

Heavy

Weighed down; burdened
Trees heavy with plums.

Hard

Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.

Heavy

Emotionally weighed down; despondent
A heavy heart.

Hard

Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.

Heavy

Marked by or exhibiting weariness
Heavy lids.

Hard

Bad; adverse
Hard luck.

Heavy

Sad or painful
Heavy news.

Hard

Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.

Heavy

Hard to do or accomplish; arduous
Heavy going.
Heavy reading.

Hard

Definite; firm
A hard commitment.

Heavy

Not easily borne; oppressive
Heavy taxes.

Hard

Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.

Heavy

Lacking vitality; deficient in vivacity or grace
A heavy gait.
Heavy humor.

Hard

Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.

Heavy

Sharply inclined; steep
A heavy grade.

Hard

Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.

Heavy

Having a large capacity or designed for rough work
A heavy truck.

Hard

Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.

Heavy

Of, relating to, or involving the large-scale production of basic products, such as steel
Heavy industry.

Hard

Hardcore.

Heavy

Of or relating to a serious dramatic role.

Hard

Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.

Heavy

(Physics) Of or relating to an isotope with an atomic mass greater than the average mass of that element.

Hard

Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.

Heavy

Loud; sonorous
A heavy sound.
Heavy breathing.

Hard

Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.

Heavy

(Linguistics) Of, relating to, or being a syllable ending in a long vowel or in a vowel plus two consonants.

Hard

High and stable. Used of prices.

Heavy

Of great significance or profundity.

Hard

Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.

Heavy

Very popular or important
A rock star who is really heavy.

Hard

Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.

Heavy

Heavily
The snow is falling heavier tonight than last night.

Hard

Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.

Heavy

A serious or tragic role in a play.

Hard

Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.

Heavy

An actor playing such a role.

Hard

Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.

Heavy

(Slang) A villain in a story or play.

Hard

Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.

Heavy

(Slang) A mobster.

Hard

(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.

Heavy

(Slang) One that is very important or influential
A media heavy.

Hard

(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.

Heavy

(of a physical object) Having great weight.

Hard

High in gluten content
Hard wheat.

Heavy

(of a topic) Serious, somber.

Hard

(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.

Heavy

Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive.
Heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.

Hard

Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.

Heavy

Good.
This film is heavy.

Hard

With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.

Heavy

Profound.
The Moody Blues are, like, heavy.

Hard

With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.

Heavy

(of a rate of flow) High, great.

Hard

In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.

Heavy

(slang) Armed.
Come heavy, or not at all.

Hard

With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.

Heavy

(of music) Loud, distorted, or intense.
Metal is heavier than rock.

Hard

Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.

Heavy

(of weather) Hot and humid.

Hard

Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.

Heavy

(of a person) Doing the specified activity more intensely than most other people.
He was a heavy sleeper, a heavy eater and a heavy smoker – certainly not an ideal husband.

Hard

Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.

Heavy

(of the eyes) With eyelids difficult to keep open due to tiredness.

Hard

(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.

Heavy

(of food) High in fat or protein; difficult to digest.
Cheese-stuffed sausage is too heavy to eat before exercising.

Hard

(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Heavy

Of great force, power, or intensity; deep or intense.
It was a heavy storm;
A heavy slumber in bed;
A heavy punch

Hard

Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.

Heavy

Laden to a great extent.
His eyes were heavy with sleep;
She was heavy with child

Hard

(of drink or drugs) Strong.

Heavy

Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with grief, pain, disappointment, etc.

Hard

(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda

Heavy

Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid.
A heavy gait, looks, manners, style, etc.
A heavy writer or book

Hard

(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.

Heavy

Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey.
A heavy road; a heavy soil

Hard

Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).

Heavy

Not raised or leavened.
Heavy bread

Hard

Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays

Heavy

(of wines or spirits) Having much body or strength.

Hard

Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.

Heavy

(obsolete) With child; pregnant.

Hard

(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Heavy

(physics) Containing one or more isotopes that are heavier than the normal one.

Hard

Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic

Heavy

(petroleum) Having high viscosity.

Hard

Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life

Heavy

(finance) Of a market: in which the price of shares is declining.

Hard

Severe, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
A hard master;
A hard heart;
Hard words;
A hard character
The senator asked the party chief to put the hard word on his potential rivals.

Heavy

Heavily-armed.

Hard

(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.

Heavy

Having a relatively high takeoff weight and payload,

Hard

(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site

Heavy

Especially, having a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 300,000 tons, as almost all widebodies do, generating high wake turbulence.

Hard

(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.

Heavy

Having the heaves.
A heavy horse

Hard

Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement

Heavy

In a heavy manner; weightily; heavily; gravely.
Heavy laden with their sins

Hard

(of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.

Heavy

To a great degree; greatly.

Hard

(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.

Heavy

Very

Hard

Fortis.

Heavy

(slang) A villain or bad guy; the one responsible for evil or aggressive acts.
With his wrinkled, uneven face, the actor always seemed to play the heavy in films.

Hard

Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".

Heavy

(slang) A doorman, bouncer or bodyguard.
A fight started outside the bar but the heavies came out and stopped it.

Hard

Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.

Heavy

A newspaper of the quality press.

Hard

(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.

Heavy

(aviation) A relatively large multi-engined aircraft.

Hard

(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.

Heavy

(often with "up") To make heavier.
They piled their goods on the donkey's back, heavying up an already backbreaking load.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Heavy

To sadden. en

Hard

Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.

Heavy

To use power or wealth to exert influence on, e.g., governments or corporations; to pressure.
The union was well known for the methods it used to heavy many businesses.

Hard

(uncomparable)

Heavy

Having the heaves.

Hard

In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive

Heavy

Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.

Hard

Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset

Heavy

Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
Sent hither to impart the heavy news.
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.

Hard

(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left

Heavy

Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment.
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband.

Hard

Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.

Heavy

Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book.
Whilst the heavy plowman snores.
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.

Hard

(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.

Heavy

Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.

Hard

(manner) With much force or effort.
He hit the puck hard up the ice.
They worked hard all week.
At the intersection, bear hard left.
The recession hit them especially hard.
Think hard about your choices.
The couple were fucking each other hard.

Heavy

Loud; deep; - said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.

Hard

(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.

Heavy

Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; - said of the sky.

Hard

(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.

Heavy

Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; - said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like.

Hard

(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.

Heavy

Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.

Hard

Near, close.

Heavy

Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; - said of food.

Hard

A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.

Heavy

Having much body or strength; - said of wines, or other liquors.

Hard

A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.

Heavy

With child; pregnant.

Hard

Crack cocaine.

Heavy

Heavily; - sometimes used in composition; as, heavy-laden.

Hard

Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.

Heavy

To make heavy.

Hard

Not easily penetrated, cut, or separated into parts; not yielding to pressure; firm; solid; compact; - applied to material bodies, and opposed to soft; as, hard wood; hard flesh; a hard apple.

Heavy

An actor who plays villainous roles

Hard

Difficult, mentally or judicially; not easily apprehended, decided, or resolved; as a hard problem.
The hard causes they brought unto Moses.
In which are some things hard to be understood.

Heavy

A serious (or tragic) role in a play

Hard

Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.

Heavy

Of comparatively great physical weight or density;
A heavy load
Lead is a heavy metal
Heavy mahogony furniture

Hard

Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.

Heavy

Unusually great in degree or quantity or number;
Heavy taxes
A heavy fine
Heavy casualties
Heavy losses
Heavy rain
Heavy traffic

Hard

Difficult to bear or endure; not easy to put up with or consent to; hence, severe; rigorous; oppressive; distressing; unjust; grasping; as, a hard lot; hard times; hard fare; a hard winter; hard conditions or terms.
I never could drive a hard bargain.

Heavy

Of the military or industry; using (or being) the heaviest and most powerful armaments or weapons or equipment;
Heavy artillery
Heavy infantry
A heavy cruiser
Heavy guns
Heavy industry involves large-scale production of basic products (such as steel) used by other industries

Hard

Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.

Heavy

Having or suggesting a viscous consistency;
Heavy cream

Hard

Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.

Heavy

Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark

Hard

Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.

Heavy

Marked by great psychological weight; weighted down especially with sadness or troubles or weariness;
A heavy heart
A heavy schedule
Heavy news
A heavy silence
Heavy eyelids

Hard

Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated, or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to another; - said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.

Heavy

Usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it

Hard

Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.

Heavy

(used of soil) compact and fine-grained;
The clayey soil was heavy and easily saturated

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Heavy

Darkened by clouds;
A heavy sky

Hard

With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.

Heavy

Of great intensity or power or force;
A heavy blow
The fighting was heavy
Heavy seas

Hard

With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.

Heavy

(physics, chemistry) being or containing an isotope with greater than average atomic mass or weight;
Heavy hydrogen
Heavy water

Hard

Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.

Heavy

(of an actor or role) being or playing the villain;
Iago is the heavy role in `Othello'

Hard

So as to raise difficulties.

Heavy

Permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter;
Dense smoke
Heavy fog
Impenetrable gloom

Hard

With tension or strain of the powers; violently; with force; tempestuously; vehemently; vigorously; energetically; as, to press, to blow, to rain hard; hence, rapidly; nimbly; as, to run hard.

Heavy

Made of fabric having considerable thickness;
A heavy coat

Hard

Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Heavy

Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker

Hard

To harden; to make hard.

Heavy

Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor

Hard

A ford or passage across a river or swamp.

Heavy

Used of syllables or musical beats

Hard

Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?

Heavy

Full and loud and deep;
Heavy sounds
A herald chosen for his sonorous voice

Hard

Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb

Heavy

Of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought;
Grave responsibilities
Faced a grave decision in a time of crisis
A grievous fault
Heavy matters of state
The weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference

Hard

Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock

Heavy

Slow and laborious because of weight;
The heavy tread of tired troops
Moved with a lumbering sag-bellied trot
Ponderous prehistoric beasts
A ponderous yawn

Hard

Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow

Heavy

Large and powerful; especially designed for heavy loads or rough work;
A heavy truck
Heavy machinery

Hard

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace

Heavy

Dense or inadequately leavened and hence likely to cause distress in the alimentary canal;
A heavy pudding

Hard

Of speech sounds

Heavy

Sharply inclined;
A heavy grade

Hard

Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker

Heavy

Full of; bearing great weight;
Trees heavy with fruit
Vines weighed down with grapes

Hard

Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider

Heavy

Requiring or showing effort;
Heavy breathing
The subject made for labored reading

Hard

Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor

Heavy

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace

Hard

Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break

Heavy

Lacking lightness or liveliness;
Heavy humor
A leaden conversation

Hard

Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before

Heavy

(of sleep) deep and complete;
A heavy sleep
Fell into a profound sleep
A sound sleeper
Deep wakeless sleep

Hard

With effort or force or vigor;
The team played hard
Worked hard all day
Pressed hard on the lever
Hit the ball hard
Slammed the door hard

Heavy

In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child

Hard

With firmness;
Held hard to the railing

Heavy

Slowly as if burdened by much weight;
Time hung heavy on their hands

Hard

Earnestly or intently;
Thought hard about it
Stared hard at the accused

Hard

Causing great damage or hardship;
Industries hit hard by the depression
She was severely affected by the bank's failure

Hard

Slowly and with difficulty;
Prejudices die hard

Hard

Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily

Hard

Into a solid condition;
Concrete that sets hard within a few hours

Hard

Very near or close in space or time;
It stands hard by the railroad tracks
They were hard on his heels
A strike followed hard upon the plant's opening

Hard

With pain or distress or bitterness;
He took the rejection very hard

Hard

To the full extent possible; all the way;
Hard alee
The ship went hard astern
Swung the wheel hard left

Common Curiosities

Can "heavy" and "hard" be used together?

Yes, e.g., "The task is both heavy (time-consuming) and hard (difficult)."

Is "hard" only used to describe negative challenges?

No, "hard" can refer to rewarding challenges too, like a "hard-earned victory."

Is "heavy" only used for physical weight?

No, "heavy" can also refer to emotional or intellectual burdens.

Can "hard" describe something that's not physically solid?

Yes, "hard" also means difficult, such as a hard problem or a hard decision.

Does "heavy" always mean difficult to carry?

Not always; "heavy traffic" describes congested roads rather than a physical burden.

Can something light also be hard?

Yes, lightweight materials like ceramics can be hard.

Can a problem be heavy and hard?

Yes, a "heavy problem" is burdensome, while a "hard problem" is tough to solve.

Do "heavy" and "hard" have opposites?

Yes, "light" is the opposite of heavy, and "soft" or "easy" contrasts with hard.

Can "hard" describe emotions?

Yes, it can describe challenging or unpleasant situations.

Is heavy related to density?

Yes, heavier objects often have higher density.

Is "hard" always negative?

Not always; "hard work" often leads to positive outcomes.

Does "heavy" relate to speed?

Not directly, but "heavy traffic" often implies slow movement.

Can weight affect hardness?

Indirectly, as heavier objects can sometimes press more firmly against surfaces.

Are metals both heavy and hard?

Some metals can be both heavy (high mass) and hard (resistant).

Is "heavy" used in the context of music?

Yes, "heavy metal" is a genre of loud, intense rock music.

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