hard-shell

adjective

ˈhärd-ˌshel 

variants or hard-shelled

ˈhärd-ˌsheld 

: fundamental sense 2b, fundamentalist

a hard-shell preacher

hard-shell Baptists

also : uncompromising, hidebound

a hard-shell conservative

Examples of hard-shell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Passengers can stretch out and use the seat’s ingenious recline function, which has hard-shell backing and offers a cradling motion that slides the seat forward and up for eight inches of recline without disturbing the flier behind. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Hilton was quickly mocked, with online commenters pointing out that authentic Mexican street tacos are served in soft tortillas, cooked up by street vendors, and that the hard-shell varieties found in a fast-food chain do not count as the real deal. — Linh Tat, Daily News, 15 July 2026

The glasses come with a hard-shell snap-shut case and a green USB-C cable. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026

The hard-shell design helps protect belongings while remaining comfortable to carry and maneuver. — New Atlas, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above