hardtack
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cramped inside vessels overladen with precious cargo, crewmembers subsisted on a miserable diet of hardtack, an unleavened bread, and salted meat and fish that routinely spoiled and left many gravely ill.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
Wartime museums display the bland hardtack that sustained Civil War fighters, and the canned meats, breads and fruit of World War II, known as C rations.
From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2021
He made a tidy sum selling the government hard, dry bread and biscuits - known as hardtack - for Union soldier rations.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2020
Some sailors use pilot bread — a thick, crackerlike item similar to Colonial-era hardtack, which doesn’t go stale — to settle their stomachs.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2018
We shook hands and he said, “My name’s Johnny Norak. I gots some spare hardtack if you’s hungry.”
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Vocabulary lists containing hardtack
The American Civil War
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Toast to Bread
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
