Solid vs. Hard — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 17, 2024
Solid refers to a state of matter characterized by structural rigidity, while hard describes a material's resistance to deformation or penetration.
Difference Between Solid and Hard
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Solid is a term used to describe one of the primary states of matter, distinguished by its fixed volume and shape due to closely packed particles. Whereas, hard is an adjective that describes the physical property of a material, specifically its resistance to being scratched, bent, penetrated, or deformed.
In the context of materials, a solid can encompass a range of textures and consistencies, including both hard and soft substances. On the other hand, hard materials, such as diamonds or steel, specifically refer to their ability to withstand physical forces without altering shape or form.
While all hard substances are solid, not all solids are hard. For example, a sponge is a solid because it maintains a consistent shape and volume, but it is not hard, as it is easily compressible and deforms under pressure. Whereas, diamond is both solid and extremely hard, resisting pressure and wear.
The distinction is also important in scientific and everyday contexts; understanding whether a material is merely solid or specifically hard can determine its suitability for various uses. For instance, building materials must be both solid and hard to ensure structural integrity.
In terms of measurement, the hardness of a material is often scientifically quantified using scales such as the Mohs scale of mineral hardness or the Brinell hardness test. Solids, however, are categorized more broadly based on their physical state rather than measurable scales of hardness.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
State of matter with fixed shape and volume.
Describes a material's resistance to deformation.
Types
Includes all forms of matter that are not liquid or gas.
Typically refers to materials like metals, ceramics.
Hardness
Not a direct characteristic.
Key characteristic, often measured scientifically.
Examples
Ice, plastic, rubber.
Diamond, steel, hardened glass.
Relevance to Usage
Important for understanding material states.
Critical for applications requiring durability.
Compare with Definitions
Solid
A state of matter characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to changes in shape or volume.
Water becomes solid ice at temperatures below 0°C.
Hard
Firm and rigid, not easily scratched, bent, or cut.
The hard granite countertops are perfect for our kitchen.
Solid
Not hollow or containing gaps.
The table is made from a solid piece of wood.
Hard
Difficult to do or understand.
It's hard to solve these advanced math problems.
Solid
Reliable or of good quality.
Their team has a solid reputation for being dependable.
Hard
Requiring a lot of effort or endurance.
They completed a hard workout at the gym today.
Solid
Unbroken continuous mass.
A solid line indicates no passing on the road.
Hard
Intensely concentrated.
He was staring hard at the document.
Solid
Complete and total.
We slept for a solid eight hours last night.
Hard
Severe or harsh in effect.
The hard frost damaged many crops overnight.
Solid
Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being liquid, gas and plasma). The molecules in a solid are closely packed together and contain the least amount of kinetic energy.
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
Solid
Of definite shape and volume; not liquid or gaseous
It was so cold the water in the bucket became solid.
Hard
Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack
Solid
(Mathematics) Of or relating to three-dimensional geometric figures or bodies.
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
Solid
Firm or compact in substance
The floor was solid and would not give way.
Hard
(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive
Solid
Not hollowed out
A solid block of wood.
Hard
Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.
Solid
Being the same substance or color throughout
Solid gold.
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
Solid
Having no gaps or breaks; continuous
A solid line of people.
Worked for a solid week.
Hard
(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.
Solid
Acting together; unanimous
A solid voting bloc.
Hard
(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).
Solid
Written without a hyphen or space. For example, the word software is a solid compound.
Hard
With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school
Solid
(Printing) Having no leads between the lines.
Hard
So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard
Solid
Of good quality
Off to a solid start.
Hard
To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard
Solid
Substantial; hearty
A solid meal.
Hard
A road leading down across a foreshore.
Solid
Sound; reliable
Solid facts.
Hard
Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.
Solid
Financially sound
A solid business.
Hard
Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.
Solid
Upstanding or dependable
A solid citizen.
Hard
Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.
Solid
(Slang) Excellent; first-rate.
Hard
Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.
Solid
A substance having a definite shape and volume; one that is neither liquid nor gaseous.
Hard
Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.
Solid
(Mathematics) A geometric figure having three dimensions.
Hard
Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.
Solid
Without a break or opening; completely or continuously
The theater was booked solid for a month.
Hard
Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.
Solid
As a whole; unanimously
The committee voted solid for the challenger.
Hard
Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.
Solid
(of an object or substance) That can be picked up or held, having a texture, and usually firm. Unlike a liquid, gas or plasma.
Almost all metals are solid at room temperature.
Hard
Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.
Solid
Large in size, quantity, or value.
Hard
Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.
Solid
Lacking holes, hollows or admixtures of other materials.
Solid gold
Solid chocolate
Hard
Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.
Solid
Strong or unyielding.
A solid foundation
Hard
Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.
Solid
(slang) Excellent, of high quality, or reliable.
That's a solid plan.
Radiohead's on tour! Have you heard their latest album yet? It's quite solid.
I don't think Dave would have done that. He's a solid dude.
Hard
Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.
Solid
Hearty; filling.
A solid meal
Hard
Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.
Solid
Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial; not frivolous or fallacious.
Hard
Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.
Solid
Financially well off; wealthy.
Hard
Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.
Solid
Sound; not weak.
A solid constitution of body
Hard
Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.
Solid
(typography) Written as one word, without spaces or hyphens.
American English writes many words as solid that British English hyphenates.
Hard
Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.
Solid
Not having the lines separated by leads; not open.
Hard
Bad; adverse
Hard luck.
Solid
United; without division; unanimous.
The delegation is solid for a candidate.
Hard
Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.
Solid
Of a single color throughout.
John painted the walls solid white.
He wore a solid shirt with floral pants.
Hard
Definite; firm
A hard commitment.
Solid
(of drawn lines) Continuous; unbroken; not dotted or dashed.
The solid lines show roads, and the dotted lines footpaths.
Hard
Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.
Solid
(dated) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic.
A solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
Hard
Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.
Solid
(of volumes of materials) Measured as a single solid, as the volumes of individual pieces added together without any gaps.
Hard
Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.
Solid
(chemistry) A substance in the fundamental state of matter that retains its size and shape without need of a container (as opposed to a liquid or gas).
Hard
Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.
Solid
(geometry) A three-dimensional figure (as opposed to a surface, an area, or a curve).
Hard
Hardcore.
Solid
(informal) A favor.
Please do me a solid: lend me your car for one week.
I owe him; he did me a solid last year.
Hard
Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.
Solid
An article of clothing which is of a single color throughout.
I prefer solids over paisleys.
Hard
Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.
Solid
(in the plural) Food which is not liquid-based.
The doctor said I can't eat any solids four hours before the operation.
Hard
Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.
Solid
Solidly.
Hard
High and stable. Used of prices.
Solid
Without spaces or hyphens.
Many long-established compounds are set solid.
Hard
Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.
Solid
Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; - opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand.
Hard
Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.
Solid
Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy.
Hard
Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.
Solid
Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
Hard
Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.
Solid
Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.
Hard
Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.
Solid
Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; - opposed to hyphened.
Hard
Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.
Solid
Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine.
The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.
These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men.
The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had projected in a poem.
Hard
(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.
Solid
Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body.
Hard
(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.
Solid
Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.
Hard
High in gluten content
Hard wheat.
Solid
Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; - applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.
Hard
(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.
Solid
Not having the lines separated by leads; not open.
Hard
Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.
Solid
United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate.
Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard house,More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised.
I hear his thundering voice resound,And trampling feet than shake the solid ground.
Hard
With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.
Solid
A substance that is held in a fixed form by cohesion among its particles; a substance not fluid.
Hard
With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.
Solid
A magnitude which has length, breadth, and thickness; a part of space bounded on all sides.
Hard
In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.
Solid
A substance that is solid at room temperature and pressure
Hard
With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.
Solid
The state in which a substance has no tendency to flow under moderate stress; resists forces (such as compression) that tend to deform it; and retains a definite size and shape
Hard
Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.
Solid
A three-dimensional shape
Hard
Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.
Solid
Of definite shape and volume; firm; neither liquid nor gaseous;
Ice is water in the solid state
Water and milk and blood are liquid substances
Hard
Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.
Solid
Of good substantial quality;
Solid comfort
A solid base hit
Hard
(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.
Solid
Entirely of one substance with no holes inside;
Solid silver
A solid block of wood
Hard
(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
Solid
Of one substance or character throughout;
Solid gold
A solid color
Carved out of solid rock
Hard
Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.
Solid
Uninterrupted in space; having no gaps or breaks;
A solid line across the page
Solid sheets of water
Hard
(of drink or drugs) Strong.
Solid
Providing abundant nourishment;
A hearty meal
Good solid food
Ate a substantial breakfast
Hard
(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda
Solid
Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings
Hard
(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.
Solid
Having high moral qualities;
A noble spirit
A solid citizen
An upstanding man
A worthy successor
Hard
Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).
Solid
Not soft or yielding to pressure;
A firm mattress
The snow was firm underfoot
Solid ground
Hard
Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays
Solid
Having three dimensions;
A solid object
Hard
Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.
Solid
Incapable of being seen through;
Solid blackness
Hard
(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
Solid
Entirely of a single color throughout;
A solid fabric
Hard
Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic
Solid
Acting together as a single undiversified whole;
A solid voting bloc
Hard
Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life
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.
Hard
(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
Hard
(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site
Hard
(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.
Hard
Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement
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.
Hard
(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.
Hard
Fortis.
Hard
Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".
Hard
Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.
Hard
(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.
Hard
(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
Hard
Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.
Hard
(uncomparable)
Hard
In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive
Hard
Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset
Hard
(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left
Hard
Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.
Hard
(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.
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.
Hard
(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.
Hard
(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.
Hard
(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.
Hard
Near, close.
Hard
A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.
Hard
A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.
Hard
Crack cocaine.
Hard
Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.
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.
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.
Hard
Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.
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.
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.
Hard
Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.
Hard
Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.
Hard
Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.
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.
Hard
Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.
Hard
Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.
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.
Hard
With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.
Hard
Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.
Hard
So as to raise difficulties.
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.
Hard
Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Hard
To harden; to make hard.
Hard
A ford or passage across a river or swamp.
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?
Hard
Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb
Hard
Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock
Hard
Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow
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
Hard
Of speech sounds
Hard
Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker
Hard
Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider
Hard
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Hard
Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break
Hard
Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before
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
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
Common Curiosities
Can a material be solid but not hard?
Yes, materials like rubber or sponge are examples of solids that are not hard, as they can easily deform.
What does solid mean in physics?
In physics, solid refers to one of the three basic states of matter with a definite shape and volume, characterized by structural rigidity.
Is glass considered solid or hard?
Glass is considered both solid and hard; it maintains a fixed shape and is also resistant to scratches and penetration to some degree.
How is hardness measured?
Hardness is typically measured using scales such as the Mohs hardness scale for minerals or the Brinell and Vickers hardness tests for metals.
Can hardness affect a material's other properties?
Yes, typically, harder materials are also more brittle, meaning they can break more easily under certain stresses compared to more ductile, softer materials.
Why is it important to know if a material is hard?
Knowing the hardness of a material helps determine its suitability for specific applications, especially where durability and resistance to wear are important.
What are practical applications for hard materials?
Hard materials are often used in construction, manufacturing tools and machinery, and protective gear due to their durability and resistance to wear.
What are some examples of hard materials?
Examples include diamond, which is the hardest natural material, and steel, known for its high resistance to deformation.
How do temperature changes affect solids and hard materials?
While most solids will maintain their state under moderate temperature changes, extreme conditions can cause them to melt or break down. Hard materials generally retain their hardness until they reach their specific melting or softening points.
What is the relationship between hardness and toughness?
Hardness is a measure of a material's resistance to surface deformation, while toughness is its ability to absorb energy before fracturing. They are related but distinct properties; hard materials are not always tough.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Carbonate vs. Bicarbonate
Next Comparison
Brandy vs. SherryAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
