hard-line

1 of 2

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈlīn 

: advocating or involving a rigidly uncompromising course of action

a hard-line policy

hard-liner

ˈhärd-ˈlī-nər 

noun

hard-liner

2 of 2

noun

hard-lin·​er

: one who advocates or pursues a hard-line policy

Synonyms of hard-line

Adjective

• strict
• rigorous

Examples of hard-line in a Sentence

Adjective

a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Two hard-line Republicans lost to two moderates in southern Idaho. — Idaho Statesman, 7 Nov. 2026

Miller, an architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration program, enters the role with a reputation for driving policy and embracing conflict. — Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026

At a stop in Sanger, a small town in a ruby-red county north of Dallas, the star of the warm-up acts was Brandon Gill, a young House Republican who has emerged as a favorite among the party’s hard-line base. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026

The international communications teams will hard-line into his organization but continue to have a dotted-line relationship into the country GM/MD and be part of their leadership team. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard-line

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline