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as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the guerillas retreated to their network of hidden fastnesses deep within the mountains

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fastness Like the pressing, the hard work mentality and fastness of transition for example. Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025 Editors and contributors compare dozens of sets and look for qualities such as softness, durability, breathability, color fastness, and how well the linens launder and withstand wear. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 May 2025 The system ensures good wet-rubbing and dry-rubbing fastness and softness on all kinds of fabrics. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Dec. 2024 The Neutral Ground had cowboys (or Cow Boys), Indians, cavalry attacks and rescues, and secret woodland fastnesses known only to the canniest frontiersman. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 The technology uses specific formaldehyde-free agents to enhance the dyeing process of raw garments, resulting in a bright and deep indigo color, improving wash and rubbing fastness, and increasing lightfastness and levelness. Andrea Onate, WWD, 12 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fastness
Noun
  • But a computer sensor wasn’t needed to confirm his terrifying speed.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Even at full sprint, the characters are moving at a relatively normal speed, with levels designed to be smaller, yet dense, to reduce the amount of backtracking and desperate ping-ponging all over the map.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Maps are typically redrawn only once a decade after the census, and in California—as in several other Democratic strongholds—an independent commission oversees the process.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • District 6 in south Charlotte was a rare Republican stronghold as the city and its leadership pushed increasingly to the left, but the margin separating Republicans from Democrats had dwindled.
    Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • And if that can happen to retail giants with decades of consumer goodwill, imagine the stakes for entertainment and cultural brands — where loyalty is fleeting, audiences are global and competition is relentless.
    Kimberly S. Reed, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Themes of love, loyalty and trust could also be tested under the weight of change.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As winds move between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Pitch velocities have sped up by nearly 6% percent since 2002, one analysis found.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Colina Pousada Spa Perched high on a hilltop, Colina Pousada Spa offers 180-degree views, from the island’s tallest peak to the old fortress.
    Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Such structures, including residences and fortresses, were created by religious authorities and noble families, according to the city’s tourism website.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The glittering gastro gem shines brightly with resourceful chefs embracing a diverse array of culinary traditions, often eschewing allegiance to strictly Southern cooking.
    Nevin Martell, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • After all the tariffs, boycotts, and bruised egos, both countries have been left to reckon with lasting economic scars and shifting allegiances.
    Dave Gordon, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The new district is a throwback of sorts to Orange County’s mid- to late-20th-century role as a bastion of conservative Republicanism.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His critics on the left say these ideas are unrealistic — even in a liberal bastion like New York City.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Like these icons, his dedication to discreet luxury and signature precise craftsmanship deeply influenced his approach to design.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Show dedication and determination!
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fastness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fastness. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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