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
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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
Minimalist design is often associated with whites and beiges, but by no means is sticking to such a color palette a hard-and-fast rule.
—
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
One is the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century, when tariffs, crony capitalism, and hard-and-fast racial hierarchies were the stuff of American politics.
—Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
But the requirement is not hard-and-fast.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
While there are no hard-and-fast rules for makeup, referencing the color wheel is always a good place to start (and perhaps a nostalgic reminder of grade school art class).
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
One is the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century, when tariffs, crony capitalism, and hard-and-fast racial hierarchies were the stuff of American politics.
—Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
But the requirement is not hard-and-fast.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
While there are no hard-and-fast rules for makeup, referencing the color wheel is always a good place to start (and perhaps a nostalgic reminder of grade school art class).
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-and-fast
Adjective
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What is Valley fever? Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores from Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the soil and dust in certain regions of the United States and the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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These fears can lead to excessive cleaning, handwashing, or avoidance of certain places, people, or objects.5 People with contamination OCD may also experience intense feelings of disgust when touching certain things.—
Health,
Health,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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In his first weeks in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting trans rights, including one stating the U.S. government would recognize only two unchangeable sexes and another barring trans people from military service.—
Brooke Sopelsa,
NBC news,
13 May 2025
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But these unchangeable circumstances don't stop military spouses from taking charge of their own lives.—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Unlike stable angina, unstable angina is considered a medical emergency.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2025
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With the right tools and relationships in place, the SLED market can become a core component of a stable—and more future-proof—business model.—
Derek Hoyt,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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My mum’s adoration of her sister was unchanging in spite of the constant changes in Hilda’s impossibly glamorous life.—
Geoff Dyer,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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Typically, scientists think of cratons as unchanging, nigh on eternal.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Amidst all the excitement of McIlroy finishing off the career grand slam last month at Augusta, DeChambeau told the media immediately after their final round together that McIlroy refused to talk to him throughout the day, sparking a social media backlash that would not die.—
Gerrit Ritt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
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Victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final today (Saturday) would elevate this club’s status to its highest level.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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With fixed or limited income, the threats and implementation of tariffs plus the effect of years of relatively high inflation rates has taken their toll.—
Jim Wang,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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In other words, to make its conventional arsenal survivable, the United States must replace its current stock of fixed and visible assets with elusive forces in multiple domains, following the nuclear triad model.—
ANDREW S. LIM,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Hard-and-fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-and-fast. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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