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Definition of hardscrabble

hardscrabble

/ˈhɑːrdˌskræb.əl/
hard · scrab · ble
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hardscrabble Lexical Profile

hardscrabble Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

North American Characterized by extreme difficulty and a constant struggle to earn a meager living, especially from barren or unproductive land.

Example

"The memoir vividly recounts her family's hardscrabble existence on a drought-stricken prairie farm during the 1930s."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

hardrock
hardscape
hardscaping
hardscrabble
hardshell
hardship
hardtop

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 18th-century American English as a compound of "hard" and "scrabble" (meaning to scratch or struggle for a living), originally popularized by the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition to describe barren, rocky terrain.

Cite this Entry

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