1
as in certain
having been established and usually not subject to change
hard-and-fast rules that governed the corporate environment in those days included strictures regarding office dress that were rigidly enforced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unchangeable
not capable of changing or being changed
hard-and-fast beliefs that are the rock-solid foundation of their religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hard-and-fast
Dogs bred for alertness or reactivity may be more attuned to sound, though this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.
—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
7 Apr. 2026
There are no hard-and-fast rules for replacing a mattress.
—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
One hard-and-fast rule to live by in this case?
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
But even in the absence of hard-and-fast rules and guardrails on how AI can be used in schools, education policymakers identified a number of ethical concerns raised by the technology’s spread, including student safety, data privacy and negative impacts on student learning.
—
Janice Mak,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
7 Apr. 2026
There are no hard-and-fast rules for replacing a mattress.
—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
One hard-and-fast rule to live by in this case?
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
But even in the absence of hard-and-fast rules and guardrails on how AI can be used in schools, education policymakers identified a number of ethical concerns raised by the technology’s spread, including student safety, data privacy and negative impacts on student learning.
—
Janice Mak,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-and-fast
Adjective
-
The technology has drawn public controversy since Detroit first signed a contract covering certain police precincts in 2020, and again in late 2022.
-
By then Tanacharison is telling Washington that he is mystically protected, in the mode of certain Indigenous warriors who were placed on earth to be leaders.
Adjective
-
Families can also create irrevocable trusts to remove countable assets towards Medicaid qualification, but remember, irrevocable trusts are usually unchangeable.
-
Policies Vary by Location As generous as Aldi’s approach can be, there are a few places where the rules are solid and unchangeable.
Adjective
-
Both Dayana Patino and her baby son Juan David Trujillo were in a stable condition on Sunday in hospital in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, AP reported.
-
Four were listed in critical condition, and six others, including the driver, were listed in stable condition.
Adjective
-
Much has changed, but Europeans remain appreciative of the simple and unchanging rhythms of the natural world, including the coming and passing of the season’s longest day.
-
The broad themes of Navy Blue’s music—depression, trauma, resilience, joy—are not static, unchanging experiences.
Adjective
-
That deficit set off a litany of Boise chances in the final 10 minutes.
-
That momentous draw came in the final group-stage game of the prestigious tournament.
Adjective
-
Give Yourself Time To Become A Leader Remember that the transformation from founder to leader is an ongoing process, not a fixed state.
-
After nearly a decade of a life spent entirely on the road with no fixed home address, travel writer Katie Lockhart has finally put down roots—in the remote Faroe Islands.
Adjective
-
In the days leading up to his show, Chavarria and his team were hard at work in his make-shift studio in the 6th arrondissement.
-
Closing a chapter, not the relationships For Sevy, the hardest part is closing this chapter with the people who made the place feel like home.
Cite this Entry
“Hard-and-fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-and-fast. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
