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Definition of hardbitten

hardbitten

/ˌhɑːrdˈbɪt.ən/
hard · bit · ten
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hardbitten Lexical Profile

hardbitten Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Toughened, cynical, or made resilient and unsentimental by difficult, harsh, or demanding experiences.

Example

"Even the most hardbitten investigative reporters were moved by the resilience of the community after the flood."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hardbitten

• Nearby Words

hardback
hardbacked
hardball
hardbitten
hardboard
hardboiled
hardbound

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century as a compound of 'hard' and 'bitten', originally used by hunters and sportsmen to describe tough terriers and hounds that fought fiercely and endured bites without backing down.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hardbitten. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hardbitten
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