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

Palestinians in the West Bank have faced violence as Israel’s hard-line government, dominated by settler leaders and supporters, has overseen a surge in settlement construction over the past four years. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

Palestinians in the West Bank have faced violence as Israel’s hard-line government, dominated by settler leaders and supporters, has overseen a surge in settlement construction over the last four years. — Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Leadership is hoping that by dangling a fourth spending package, hard-line Republican holdouts will vote to advance the third reconciliation bill. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, urged a hard-line response to the chavistas and argued that an intervention would serve America’s national-security interests. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 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