1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of hard-and-fast
Because no hard-and-fast medical test exists for ME/CFS, the condition is sometimes considered more of a psychological than physical ailment.
—
New Atlas, 25 July 2025
One hard-and-fast requirement for playability is at least 16GB of unified RAM.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Elephant parents prefer to let children develop at their own pace, adapting to their needs over any hard-and-fast rules or strict routine.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 2 July 2025
This is not a hard-and-fast rule, which is good because teams bounce around that threshold daily this time of year.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
New Atlas, 25 July 2025
One hard-and-fast requirement for playability is at least 16GB of unified RAM.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Elephant parents prefer to let children develop at their own pace, adapting to their needs over any hard-and-fast rules or strict routine.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 2 July 2025
This is not a hard-and-fast rule, which is good because teams bounce around that threshold daily this time of year.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-and-fast
Adjective
-
In some cases, sportsbooks have taken down odds on certain events to protect against manipulation.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Also, they’re simply banned at certain sites, including all of Greece’s ancient monuments, for preservation reasons.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On the other hand, cooperative and validating communication can help when problems are minor or unchangeable.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The State Department suspended processing applications from Americans seeking to update their passports with a new gender marker in January, shortly after President Trump signed an executive order proclaiming the U.S. recognizes only two unchangeable sexes, male and female.—
Brooke Migdon,
The Hill,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Tyler sustained third-degree burns on his arm, but remains in stable condition, according to the news station.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Higginbotham still managed to be one of the most effective commentators in the Apple TV stable.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Because that's what these young girls feel like when a boy walks into their locker room and starts unchanging in front of them.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
This dark energy, which Einstein labeled with the Greek letter lambda, has long been assumed to be unchanging and reliable through time.—
Rebecca Boyle,
Scientific American,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Diagonal passes to onrushing full-backs has proven to be another effective route around the high defensive line, as Inter targeted Denzel Dumfries with 14 long balls out to his flank across the two-legged Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona last season.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But the tone of those attacks have amped up in recent days, drawing allegations from some Democrats that Cuomo’s campaign is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Afkhami recommends Western European countries where universal education and health care make these affordability goals possible, especially for those on a fixed income.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Bay Area is a punishing place to grow old on a fixed income.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But competing with Swift is basically impossible for anyone, which makes this report a little hard to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Oct. 2025
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Potato plants can survive a light freeze, but a hard freeze below 30 degrees will kill them off.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-and-fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-and-fast. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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