as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders
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Recent Examples of hard-line
Despite North Korea’s hard-line approach, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has tried to improve relations across the demilitarized zone and decrease tensions that were prevalent under his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol.
—
Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
The agency is detaining people who are in the middle of applying for legal status, and the Justice Department has directed hard-line immigration judges to deny bail and ICE attorneys to pursue deportations as vigorously as possible.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
But human rights groups say that an even more hard-line group is now leading the country, who will likely crack down even harder on domestic unrest when the war ends.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Its most prominent members are hard-line Trump allies Javier Milei of Argentina and Nayib Bukele of El Salvador.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
The agency is detaining people who are in the middle of applying for legal status, and the Justice Department has directed hard-line immigration judges to deny bail and ICE attorneys to pursue deportations as vigorously as possible.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
But human rights groups say that an even more hard-line group is now leading the country, who will likely crack down even harder on domestic unrest when the war ends.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Its most prominent members are hard-line Trump allies Javier Milei of Argentina and Nayib Bukele of El Salvador.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-line
Adjective
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And in France, a country whose approach to secularism is increasingly contested because of its strict regulation of religion in public life, some 13,000 adults were baptized at the Easter Vigil this year — 42% of them ages 18 to 25.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
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In April Judge Roach issued strict media guidelines for the trial, including a limit of nine media members and prohibiting photography and digital recording of court activity.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Every small business article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of small business products.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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The campaign was the work of Claude Hopkins, an advertising executive with a passion for rigorous testing and measurable results.—
Julia Dhar,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-line. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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