hard-fought

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

hard-fought
    adj 1: requiring great effort; "a hard-fought primary"

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

hard-fought \hard"-fought`\ (-f[add]t`), a.
   Vigorously contested by both opponents; -- of contests; as, a
   hard-fought battle; a hard-fought primary election.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]