as in staunch
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something
a down-the-line supporter of the Republican Party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in down to the ground
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of down-the-line
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
With the right coaching, there is some down-the-line starting potential.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Any preconceived idea that the 50-year-old might be a cold, straight-down-the-line manager who plays it safe has been dispelled.
—Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Denzel Burke, Ohio State Like Alexander, Burke would be at his best as a zone defender who can give the Bills solid reps as a down-the-line starter.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Only the occasional decision — going cross-court over down-the-line, playing a drop-shot or lob ahead of a pass — went awry.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
After smacking a one-handed, down-the-line backhand winner that finished with the flourish of a flowing followthrough, giving him a break for a 4-3 edge in the fifth set, Eubanks held his right index finger to his ear, seeking more noise.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2023
The two engaged in a 11-shot rally that seemed to be over after what seemed to be a down-the-line backhand winner from Bublik.
—Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 9 July 2023
After an 11-shot rally ended with a flawless down-the-line backhand, Duxbury sophomore Tim Vargas let his emotions go, well aware of his role in cementing the Dragons as state champions.
—Greg Levinsky, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2023
Adjective
Denzel Burke, Ohio State (4th-5th) Burke would be at his best as a zone defender who can give the Bills solid reps as a down-the-line starter.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
With the right coaching, there is some down-the-line starting potential.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Any preconceived idea that the 50-year-old might be a cold, straight-down-the-line manager who plays it safe has been dispelled.
—Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Denzel Burke, Ohio State Like Alexander, Burke would be at his best as a zone defender who can give the Bills solid reps as a down-the-line starter.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Only the occasional decision — going cross-court over down-the-line, playing a drop-shot or lob ahead of a pass — went awry.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
After smacking a one-handed, down-the-line backhand winner that finished with the flourish of a flowing followthrough, giving him a break for a 4-3 edge in the fifth set, Eubanks held his right index finger to his ear, seeking more noise.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2023
The two engaged in a 11-shot rally that seemed to be over after what seemed to be a down-the-line backhand winner from Bublik.
—Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 9 July 2023
After an 11-shot rally ended with a flawless down-the-line backhand, Duxbury sophomore Tim Vargas let his emotions go, well aware of his role in cementing the Dragons as state champions.
—Greg Levinsky, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-the-line
Adjective
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The older generation, considered as staunch wealth preservers, are deciding to enjoy their wealth now rather than simply passing it on.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Pelosi, who wrote off the matter for a long period of time, seemed to back down on her staunch opinions ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Decade after decade, the city remains steadfast in the face of adversity.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Among those who left in time, some remained steadfast in their lifelong friendships, as did their children.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The loyal throngs of fans that stuck around, even as the crowd dwindled, were duly rewarded when, a few hours later, Lorde arrived in the flesh to perform.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Above all, Thomas has remained loyal to the franchise that drafted him, and loyalty should count for something.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These collaborations help establish trust and credibility while ensuring that the platform remains a true reflection of local perspectives.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
Strong lines that team up to form geometric designs, metallic accents, luxe materials like marble and velvet, and eye-catching ornamentation are certainly part of the style's foundation, true.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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The Lenovo faithful will miss the signature red TrackPoint in the center of the keyboard, and typing on the ThinkPad X9 is a definite downgrade from the usual ThinkPad.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Kirill is the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, a faithful backer of the Russian leader and an advocate for the war in Ukraine.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Okay, top-10 best movie entrance of all time for Blake Lively.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
26 Apr. 2025
-
The forthcoming rain was good news for crews battling a wildfire in central New Jersey that erupted on April 22 and has consumed 12,250 acres.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And hey, even the most devout among us can't argue with that.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The Kremlin and its far-right proxies now paint Ivan as a great statesman and devout Russian Orthodox Christian who laid the foundations of the Russian Empire.—
Dina Khapaeva,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Held at Churchill Downs, the nation’s premier horse racing event continues to attract dedicated fans and casual spectators alike.—
Javier Zarracina,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Bona Fides The reigning king of the genre is 2017’s Escape from Tarkov, a game with a dedicated hardcore audience, but the most popular extraction shooter the general public might’ve actually played is Helldivers 2, which exploded in users after arriving in early 2024.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-the-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-the-line. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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