Hardcore

/ˈhɑːrdkɔːr/

adjectivemedium📊CommonIntensity
2 meanings2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Characterized by extreme or uncompromising views, actions, or content.

/ˈhɑːrdkɔːr/

adjectivenegativemedium
Intensity

Extreme, uncompromising, or intense

The documentary explored the hardcore lifestyle of motorcycle gangs.

💡 Simply: Imagine you LOVE something, like video games, and play them all day, every day. That's 'hardcore'! It's like saying you're super, super into it!

👶 For kids: When something is hardcore, it's like the *mostest*! The most fun, the most loud, the most everything!

More Examples

2

She's a hardcore fan of the band and attends every concert.

3

The movie contained hardcore violence and was not suitable for children.

How It's Used

Music

"The band plays hardcore punk music."

Pornography

"The movie is considered hardcore due to its explicit content."

Attitude

"He's a hardcore gamer who plays for hours every day."

2

A subgenre of punk rock music, characterized by aggressive and fast tempos.

/ˈhɑːrdkɔːr/

nounneutralmedium
Music

A subgenre of music

The concert featured several hardcore bands.

💡 Simply: Imagine really loud, fast, and aggressive music. That's often called 'hardcore', especially in punk rock!

👶 For kids: Hardcore is a type of music that's loud and fast and makes you want to jump around!

More Examples

2

Hardcore music often deals with themes of rebellion and social commentary.

3

He prefers listening to hardcore punk instead of pop music.

How It's Used

Music

"Hardcore punk has a raw and aggressive sound."

Tip:The music's 'hard core' has a fast beat and aggressive sound.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

From 'hard' + 'core', initially referring to a musical style characterized by aggressive sound and themes. Later broadened to describe extreme or uncompromising attitudes, actions, or content.

The term 'hardcore' initially appeared in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the context of punk rock music, evolving to describe extreme or intense forms of various activities.

Memory tip

Think of the 'core' of something, the hardest part. Hardcore is the most intense or extreme form.

Word Origin

LanguageEnglish
Original meaning

"Hard (from Old English *heard*) means firm or solid, and core (from Latin *cor*) means the central or most important part."

Base: core
hardcore fanhardcore punkhardcore violencehardcore gamer

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written