hard-core

adjective \ ˈhärd-ˈkȯr \

Updated on: 28 Mar 2018

Definition of hard-core

1 a : of, relating to, or being part of a hard core

hard-core poverty

the hard-core unemployed

b : confirmed, die-hard

hard-core rock fans

a hard-core liberal

2 of pornography : containing explicit descriptions of sex acts or scenes of actual sex acts — compare soft-core

3 : characterized by or being the purest or most basic form of something : fundamental

a room gussied up in hard-core French provincial style
—John Canaday

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First Known Use of hard-core

1934

hard-core Synonyms

Synonyms

bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, deep, deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched (also intrenched), inveterate, rooted, settled;

Near Antonyms

brief, ephemeral, fleeting, impermanent, interim, momentary, provisional, short-lived, short-term, temporary, transient;

embedded (also imbedded), implanted, inculcated, instilled;

inborn, inbred, ingrained (also engrained), inherent, innate, integral, intrinsic, natural;

accustomed, chronic, customary, habitual, regular, typical, usual;

abiding, enduring, lifelong, persistent, persisting;

hard core

noun

Definition of hard core

1 : a central or fundamental and usually enduring group or part: such as

a : a relatively small enduring core of society marked by apparent resistance to change or inability to escape a persistent wretched condition (such as poverty or chronic unemployment)

b : a militant or fiercely loyal faction

2 usually hardcore play \ˈhärd-ˌkȯr\ , chiefly British : hard material in pieces (such as broken bricks or stone) used as a bottom (as in making roads and in foundations)

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Examples of hard core in a Sentence

He knows that he can count on the support of a hard core of party loyalists.

Recent Examples of hard core from the Web

This means that current and former military officers make up the hardest core of Sisi’s support inside the Egyptian government; his regime looks more like a military junta than Putin’s.

— zack beauchamp, Vox, "Putin’s landslide election makes it seem like Russia is stable. Don’t be fooled.," 19 Mar. 2018
None of this is happening, because an irresponsible, populist president and a hard core within Congress reject any serious efforts.

— trudy rubin, Philly.com, "Populist victory in Italy's election has lessons for U.S. | Trudy Rubin," 7 Mar. 2018
The Raiders were slipping back toward oblivion and eyeing two years of annoying lame duck status and the reality of losing their hard core fan base.

— ann killion, San Francisco Chronicle, "Could Raiders, 49ers make Bay Area the center of NFL universe?," 11 Jan. 2018
That peaceful approach could change if the hard core feels cornered.

— tunku varadarajan, WSJ, "The Strain in Spain Could Cause a World of Pain," 27 Sep. 2017
Elections, which Puigdemont had wanted to call to defuse the situation only to balk as the separatist hard core engulfed him, will now come on Dec. 21 after Rajoy dissolved the Catalan Parliament.

— esteban duarte, Bloomberg.com, "Cold Reality Dawns for Catalonia After Spain Quashes Independence," 28 Oct. 2017
None of this matters to Trump, who must appease the bigots who form the hard core of his support.

— sarah jones, New Republic, "Trump is about to make good on one of his cruelest promises.," 31 Aug. 2017
Actually, Twitter is basically shipping it hard core now.

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "Nick Jonas Left a Flirty Message on Hilary Duff's Instagram," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hard core.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.