Such times are difficult to describe (4)

I believe the answer is:

hard

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'such' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hard that I've seen before include "Tough - difficult" , "Solid; tough" , "Unyielding" , "badly" , "Novel featuring Mr Gradgrind" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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