IPA: /ˈhɑrdˌkɔr/
KK: /hɑrdˈkɔr/
Relating to something that is extreme, intense, or dedicated, often in a way that is more intense than usual.
He is a hardcore fan of the band, attending every concert and collecting all their albums.
A type of material made from broken bricks, stones, or other aggregates, often used as a base for construction, especially in roads and paths. It can also refer to a genre of music that is intense and aggressive, such as hardcore punk or techno.
The construction crew used hardcore to create a solid foundation for the new road.
Hardcore → It is formed from "hard" (from Old English "heard", meaning firm or solid) and "core" (from Latin "cor", meaning heart). The term "hardcore" refers to something that is solidly central or fundamental, often used to describe extreme or intense forms of something.
Think of something that is 'firm' ('hard') at its 'heart' ('core') — that's why hardcore means something that is intensely solid or fundamental.
No commonly confused words.