hardscrabble

/ˈhɑrdˌskræbəl/
adjective
  1. Providing only a bare or difficult living, especially because the land is poor or conditions are harsh.
    • The family lived on a hardscrabble farm where crops barely grew.
    • Many settlers left the hardscrabble region to find better opportunities in the city.
    • Despite the hardscrabble soil, the villagers managed to survive by raising goats.
  2. Characterized by struggle and poverty; difficult and meager.
    • He grew up in a hardscrabble neighborhood where every penny counted.
    • The artist's hardscrabble early years inspired his later paintings of resilience.
    • They led a hardscrabble existence, working long hours for little pay.
Antonyms
What does "hardscrabble" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean