The term 'hardly hard' is an oxymoron, meaning that it is a phrase that combines two contradictory words. The crossword solutions for this term are CUSHY (5 letters), EASY (4 letters), and SOFT (4 letters). All three of these words describe something that is not hard, but rather comfortable or effortless. CUSHY means comfortable and luxurious, EASY implies something that requires little effort, and SOFT suggests something that is gentle and not harsh. Therefore, the crossword solutions for 'hardly hard' all refer to something that is not difficult or challenging.