hard-hitting

/ˌhɑːd ˈhɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhɑːrd ˈhɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärd-ˈhi-tiŋ/ (ame, mw)

hard-hitting — adjective

1. willing to make blunt, forceful criticisms of people or institutions, without so

1.形容詞C1
釋義

willing to make blunt, forceful criticisms of people or institutions, without softening the wording or worrying who might be upset.

例句

Hassan wrote a hard-hitting article naming three senators who had taken donations from the polluter.

attributive: a hard-hitting + [noun] (article, report, speech)

The documentary was hard-hitting and forced the company to apologise within a week.

predicative: [subject] + be + hard-hitting

同義詞
  • blunt

    shorter and more about a single statement; hard-hitting suggests sustained criticism

  • uncompromising

    stresses refusing to soften the message; closely related

  • outspoken

    about the speaker's willingness to speak; hard-hitting is about the content itself

反義詞
  • soft

    of criticism: too gentle to have any effect

  • mealy-mouthed

    vague and evasive to avoid offence

文法句型

a hard-hitting + [speech/report/article/film]

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a piece of communication — a speech, article, report, interview, documentary, or editorial. Distinguish from sense 2: when the subject is a punch, advert, or product, it is sense 2 (forceful impact), not sense 1 (blunt criticism).

常見錯誤

❌He is a hard-hitting man.
✅He gives hard-hitting interviews.
💡the adjective describes the speech or writing, not the person directly.

2. having strong physical or persuasive force that quickly produces a noticeable re

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having strong physical or persuasive force that quickly produces a noticeable result — used of fighters, sports players, advertising campaigns, or anything designed to land with maximum effect.

例句

Lakan was the team's most hard-hitting striker, scoring twice in the opening fifteen minutes.

attributive in sport: hard-hitting striker / batter / forward

The charity launched a hard-hitting advert showing the long-term damage caused by drink driving.

common collocation: hard-hitting advert / campaign / message

同義詞
  • powerful

    broader; powerful covers emotion too, hard-hitting stresses the quick visible effect

  • punchy

    more informal; punchy is often about short and lively, hard-hitting is about force of impact

  • forceful

    neutral register; hard-hitting adds the sense of a deliberate target being struck

反義詞
  • ineffective

    fails to produce the intended effect

  • weak

    lacking the force to influence anyone

文法句型

a hard-hitting + [campaign/advert/striker/punch]

用法筆記

Object is the thing producing impact (a punch, advert, player, argument), not a piece of criticism. If the subject is a speech or article whose force comes from blunt words about wrongdoing, that is sense 1. Often combines with 'enough to + [outcome]' to name the effect.

常見錯誤

❌The food was hard-hitting.
✅The chilli was punchy / packed a real kick.
💡hard-hitting is not used of taste or food.