HARD-AND-FAST Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

hard-and-fast

adjective

ˌhärd-ᵊn-ˈfast

Definition of hard-and-fast

as in certain

having been established and usually not subject to change hard-and-fast rules that governed the corporate environment in those days included strictures regarding office dress that were rigidly enforced

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unchangeable

not capable of changing or being changed hard-and-fast beliefs that are the rock-solid foundation of their religion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hard-and-fast There’s no hard-and-fast rule on how physically close a witness should be under recall status, and these restrictions are up to a judge. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 May 2026 There are no hard-and-fast rules on how to log a home run or whether a circus catch ought to be recorded as more than an out. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Dogs bred for alertness or reactivity may be more attuned to sound, though this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 7 Apr. 2026 There are no hard-and-fast rules for replacing a mattress. — Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-and-fast

Adjective

This study found an association between certain BMI categories and lower mortality.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
However, in recent years, the state's increased its controlling grip on certain aspects of expression, especially in regards to political figures with the passage of law in 2018 that bans criticism of the nation's heroes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of certain

Adjective

Think of it as giving a huge group of devices the same unchangeable password.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
An organization that has seen its problem and defined it as unchangeable has pre-agreed that the one thing that would work is the one thing that cannot be done.

— Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of unchangeable

Adjective

On both the equity and insurance side, the pattern is stable—capital that was raised for insurance ends up cross-financing the sponsor’s other sports or business interests, often with limited transparency.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
The 24-year-old woman was transported to a Chicago hospital where she was listed as stable, the release stated.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of stable

Adjective

However, the trade quickly unwound, with yields higher Thursday as the market digested the move as well as the longer-term structural problems facing the fixed income market.

— Jeff Cox,Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
According to the report, residents of Pittsburgh spend a median of $1,775 each month on the 13 most common household bills, which is about 14% less than the national average and welcome news for anyone living on a fixed income.

— Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of fixed

Adjective

Sunday’s game was the first time since Cunningham was taken down by the Sky’s DiJonai Carrington on a hard foul on a fast break earlier this month.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Other majors, such as engineering, with its extensive math requirements, have been harder to shrink.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

hard

hard-and-fast

hardback

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hard-and-fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-and-fast. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hard-and-fast

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cogent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes