hardly

Definitions

1. Barely, only just, almost not
2. By a very little; almost not:barely, just, scarce, scarcely.
3. Certainly not; not at all
4. To almost no degree; barely at all; almost not: I could hardly hear the speaker.
5. With difficulty
6. Probably or surely not: He is hardly the kind of guy you would want to date. It's hardly a secret that they are engaged.
7. Harshly, severely; in a hard manner
8. With great difficulty or effort: I could hardly get up the stairs.
9. Firmly, vigorously, with strength or exertion
10. With severity; harshly: "The winter months would deal hardly with many of these poor folk" (William Black).
11. scarcely; barely: we hardly knew the family.
12. just; only just: he could hardly hold the cup.
13. often ironic almost or probably not or not at all: he will hardly incriminate himself.
    often
14. with difficulty or effort
15. rare harshly or cruelly
    rare

Equivalents

CEFR level