tryhard

See also: try-hard

English

Alternative forms

try-hard

Etymology

From try +‎ hard.

Pronunciation

Audio (US): (file)
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹaɪˌhɑɹd/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹaɪˌhɑːd/

Noun

tryhard (plural tryhards)

(informal, derogatory) A person usually of little talent who tries hard to succeed, especially through imitation, usually to gain fame or popularity.
(video games) A person who is perceived as putting too much effort into something recreational, such as a game.

Synonyms

wannabe, keener, cheug (cheugy in attributive contexts)

Translations

person of little talent

Spanish: arrastrado (es) m, esforzado (es) m, esmerado (es) m

Adjective

tryhard (comparative more tryhard, superlative most tryhard)

(derogatory) Done to excess, to an embarrassing degree.
Synonym: overcooked

Verb

tryhard (third-person singular simple present tryhards, present participle tryharding, simple past and past participle tryharded)

(intransitive, video games) To put perhaps too much effort into a recreational activity, typically a game.
- 2018 January 16, Ryan Gilliam, “What should you expect your new rank to be?”, in The Rift Herald‎^[1]:
  Tryhard like you’ve never tryharded before. If you don’t get called a tryhard in game, you’re not tryharding enough. OK, so maybe don’t go overboard but, if you want to take ranked seriously this season, be sure to start off on the right foot.
- 2020 August 17, Alan Bernal, “Have tryhards ruined gaming? Viral video divides opinion”, in Dexerto‎^[2]:
  Some people view tryhards negatively since more casual players can get instantly overwhelmed by people in matchmaking that are hard-pressed to win rather than to just have fun. But that’s where an important distinction is being asked: is tryharding the same as simply trying to win.
- 2022 April 1, “Best League of Legends champs to pick in One For All game mode”, in DotEsports‎^[3]:
  If you’re looking to have fun while tryharding in One For All, you can’t go wrong with Malphite.

Spanish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English tryhard.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈtɾaixaɾ/ [ˈt̪ɾai̯.xaɾ]
- Rhymes: -aixaɾ
IPA^(key): /ˈtɾaixaɾd/ [ˈt̪ɾai̯.xaɾð̞]
- Rhymes: -aixaɾd
Syllabification: tryhard

Noun

tryhard m or f by sense (plural tryhard or tryhards)

(video games) a tryhard; a competitive player
- 2021 September 19, @JuanSGuarnizo, Twitter‎^[4], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  Amigos creadores de contenido, mañana habrá un torneo de Warzone contra El Mariana y necesito squads que me representen, pls contesten este tweet o manden dm sin pena con su squad armada. NO pros, NO tryhards, es un evento por diversión. :)
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2023 June 11, @JustASith, Twitter‎^[5], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  Quackity "Voy a agregar a un montón de tryhards y gente competitiva al QSMP para que haya muchos conflictos"
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2024 January 14, @Roiereal, Twitter‎^[6], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  muy bonito pero para cuando los niños nintendo @aldogeotv @AREtoiles juegan a smash o algo, malditos tryhards nintendo boys, clones de distintos continentes, hagan algo
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Adjective

tryhard m or f (masculine and feminine plural tryhard or tryhards)

(video games) Of, belonging or pertaining to, a tryhard; competitive
- 2021 October 12, @TheGrefg, Twitter‎^[7], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  Hoy haré directo exclusivo del Juego del Calamar en Roblox con dos sorpresitas:
  
  - Presentaré mi equipo para el Torneo de mañana (es muy tryhard).
  
  - Si no consigo ganar una partida en toda la tarde, regalaré 500 subs (es imposible que pase).
  
  Ahora nos vemos 💙😎
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2022 April 27, @Emikukis, Twitter‎^[8], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  Cabros, busco dos compañeros para jugar Fortnite por platita 🤑. Es modo sin construcción y tampoco necesito gente muy tryhard, interesados comenten 😭👍
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2023 March 6, @rodezel, Twitter‎^[9], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  Igual por mas que no hubiera ganado nadie, para mi y para muchos olli a sido muy tryhard, desde un punto de vista critico el nomas queria llamar la atención matando a todos, que no digo que esta prohibido lo que a echo olli porque todo esta permitido, por si acaso
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2023 March 24, @brisitos, Twitter‎^[10], archived from the original on 2024-10-31:
  todos: ay no spreen en minecraft da miedo, es re tryhard y vive matando a todo el mundo
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.