Heavy vs. Hard — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Heavy and Hard
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Compare with Definitions
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
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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
Sexually aroused; having an erect penis.
I got so hard watching two hot girls wrestle each other on the beach.
Heavy
Very
Hard
(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.
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
Fortis.
Heavy
(slang) A doorman, bouncer or bodyguard.
A fight started outside the bar but the heavies came out and stopped it.
Hard
Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".
Heavy
A newspaper of the quality press.
Hard
Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.
Heavy
(aviation) A relatively large multi-engined aircraft.
Hard
(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.
Heavy
(often with "up") To make heavier.
They piled their goods on the donkey's back, heavying up an already backbreaking load.
Hard
(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.
Heavy
To sadden. en
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
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
Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.
Heavy
Having the heaves.
Hard
(uncomparable)
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
In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive
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
Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset
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
(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left
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
Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.
Heavy
Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.
Hard
(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.
Heavy
Loud; deep; - said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
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
Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; - said of the sky.
Hard
(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.
Heavy
Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; - said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like.
Hard
(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.
Heavy
Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
Hard
(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.
Heavy
Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; - said of food.
Hard
Near, close.
Heavy
Having much body or strength; - said of wines, or other liquors.
Hard
A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.
Heavy
With child; pregnant.
Hard
A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.
Heavy
Heavily; - sometimes used in composition; as, heavy-laden.
Hard
Crack cocaine.
Heavy
To make heavy.
Hard
Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.
Heavy
An actor who plays villainous roles
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
A serious (or tragic) role in a play
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
Of comparatively great physical weight or density;
A heavy load
Lead is a heavy metal
Heavy mahogony furniture
Hard
Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.
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 resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.
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 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
Having or suggesting a viscous consistency;
Heavy cream
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
Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark
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
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
Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.
Heavy
Usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it
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
(used of soil) compact and fine-grained;
The clayey soil was heavy and easily saturated
Hard
Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.
Heavy
Darkened by clouds;
A heavy sky
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
Heavy
Of great intensity or power or force;
A heavy blow
The fighting was heavy
Heavy seas
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
(physics, chemistry) being or containing an isotope with greater than average atomic mass or weight;
Heavy hydrogen
Heavy water
Hard
With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.
Heavy
(of an actor or role) being or playing the villain;
Iago is the heavy role in `Othello'
Hard
Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.
Heavy
Permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter;
Dense smoke
Heavy fog
Impenetrable gloom
Hard
So as to raise difficulties.
Heavy
Made of fabric having considerable thickness;
A heavy coat
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
Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker
Hard
Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Heavy
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Hard
To harden; to make hard.
Heavy
Used of syllables or musical beats
Hard
A ford or passage across a river or swamp.
Heavy
Full and loud and deep;
Heavy sounds
A herald chosen for his sonorous voice
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
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
Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb
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
Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock
Heavy
Large and powerful; especially designed for heavy loads or rough work;
A heavy truck
Heavy machinery
Hard
Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow
Heavy
Dense or inadequately leavened and hence likely to cause distress in the alimentary canal;
A heavy pudding
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
Sharply inclined;
A heavy grade
Hard
Of speech sounds
Heavy
Full of; bearing great weight;
Trees heavy with fruit
Vines weighed down with grapes
Hard
Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker
Heavy
Requiring or showing effort;
Heavy breathing
The subject made for labored reading
Hard
Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider
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
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Heavy
Lacking lightness or liveliness;
Heavy humor
A leaden conversation
Hard
Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break
Heavy
(of sleep) deep and complete;
A heavy sleep
Fell into a profound sleep
A sound sleeper
Deep wakeless sleep
Hard
Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before
Heavy
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
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
Slowly as if burdened by much weight;
Time hung heavy on their hands
Hard
With firmness;
Held hard to the railing
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
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