hard-earned

He saved his hard-earned money in a piggy bank.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Obtained through significant effort or difficulty: "hard-earned" describes something, typically money, success, or a reward, that is gained only after expending considerable work, struggle, or sacrifice.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She spent her hard-earned savings on a new car. (Money obtained through difficult work was used for the purchase.)
  • The victory was hard-earned after months of intense training. (The win required substantial effort and dedication.)
  • He took pride in his hard-earned reputation as a reliable craftsman. (His good name was built through consistent, demanding labour.)

Advanced Usage

• "hard-earned" as a compound modifier: Often placed before a noun to emphasize the effort behind the achievement.
  • Their hard-earned peace was threatened by the new conflict. (The peace, achieved through long struggle, was now at risk.)
  • A hard-earned lesson is one that is not easily forgotten. (Knowledge gained through painful experience is deeply remembered.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hard-earned (adj): No common variants; the hyphenated form is standard.
• Earn (v): to gain money or reward through work or effort.
  • He earns a living by teaching. (He works to obtain income.)
• Earnest (adj): showing sincere and intense conviction (etymologically related to "earn" but distinct in meaning).
  • She made an earnest attempt to finish the project. (She tried with genuine effort.)

Synonyms

• Hard-won: obtained with great effort.
  • The hard-won rights of workers must be protected. (Rights achieved through struggle.)
• Painstakingly gained: acquired with careful, laborious work.
  • Her painstakingly gained expertise was admired by all. (Knowledge gained through meticulous effort.)
• Strenuously earned: earned with vigorous exertion.
  • The money was strenuously earned through overtime shifts. (Income from exhausting work.)

Related Idioms

• Earn one's keep: to work sufficiently to justify the cost of one's maintenance.
  • He had to earn his keep by helping on the farm. (He contributed labour to cover his expenses.)
• By the sweat of one's brow: through hard physical labour.
  • She built her business by the sweat of her brow. (Through exhausting personal effort.)

Antonyms

• Easy: obtained without difficulty.
  • Easy money is often spent quickly. (Money gained without effort.)
• Unearned: not obtained through work or merit.
  • Unearned income, such as lottery winnings, is taxed differently. (Income not gained by labour.)